What are pregnancy and family responsibilities discrimination?

Pregnancy discrimination: Exclusions, restrictions, or distinctions made on the basis of current or potential pregnancy, childbirth, or related conditions, with an unwillingness to hire, promote, or retain female students or workers who may get pregnant and leave school or the workforce or who require maternity leave and benefits.

Family responsibilities discrimination: Exclusions, restrictions, or distinctions against individuals (such as pregnant women, mothers and fathers of young children, parents of disabled children, and individuals who care for their aging parents or sick spouses/partners) based on their responsibilities to care for family members. Caregivers are often incorrectly perceived as not being committed to their work.

How do pregnancy and family responsibilities discrimination affect health workers?

Using pregnancy, childbirth, or family roles to make hiring, training, or promotion decisions prevents female health workers, students, and faculty from entering the occupation of their choice or accessing opportunities to advance their careers. HIV/AIDS has also increased caregiving responsibilities, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, as some health workers care for children orphaned by the epidemic or support the health of infected family members.