Child care arrangements and wellbeing of children of employed women in Central Uganda

Abstract

Childcare has an influence on child morbidity and survival. It has an effect on children’s development potential, especially during the first five years of life and the effects extend into adulthood. This study aimed at examining the relationship between child care arrangements for women in work and the wellbeing of children. Data were collected from 804 households in Wakiso District of Central Uganda from mothers, children and caregivers. The analysis looks at the relationship between child wellbeing and risk factors at the level of the household, the child, the mother, the care giver and the child care arrangement. Analysis was conducted at the univariate, bivariate and multivariate levels. Results indicate that 17% were stunted, 3% were wasted and 7% were underweight. Results show higher odds of multiple CCAs for children of women in the high wealth quintile, age 35 or more years and with post-secondary education. Analysis of the determinants of the choice of caregivers revealed that women in wealthier households, those with secondary or more education, currently married, with more than one child under 5 years, and with a father who was involved in child care had higher odds of employing caregivers that were relatives. The odds of child wellbeing were higher among children belonging to middle and high wealth categories, those with female caregivers and with mothers of the Pentecostal and Adventist faiths. Qualitative results indicate better wellbeing among children looked after in formal child care facilities. While further research is needed to determine the effects of the various child care arrangements on child health and development, interventions such as setting up of workplace child care facilities by employers, subsidised by government and promotion of nutritional and child protection programs can go a long way in not only improving the wellbeing of children whose mothers are at work but also making motherhood more compatible with work. There is need for Government of Uganda through the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development to improve child care through fast tracking policy commitment to providing early childhood care and education, training of the providers and increasing investment in child care and early childhood programs. The study highlights the need to improve the socioeconomic status of households in Uganda for better child wellbeing outcomes.