The Role of Fathers and Care-Giving Arrangements in Informal Settlements in Kenya and Ethiopia
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Date
2023
Authors
Owino, George Evans
Yigezu, Moges
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Frontiers in Public Health
Abstract
Introduction: Quality childcare has been associated with multiple long-term
benefits for children including improved school readiness, better educational
outcomes and improved health and productivity. Evidence suggests that returns
on investment are much higher when targeted at the youngest children, especially
during the first 1,000 days. Despite the evidence and the ever-increasing need
and potential benefits, investments made so far to make high-quality childcare
accessible to the neediest families are not commensurate. It is estimated that
nearly 350 million eligible pre-primary school-age children have no access to
quality childcare, especially in low-and middle-income countries. The purpose of
this study was to establish the role of fathers and the childcare arrangements in
selected urban informal settlements in Kenya and Ethiopia.
Methods: A mixed methods design was adopted with quantitative data being
collected using a structured household questionnaire administered to 635
mothers of children of 0–3 years from both countries. In both countries, data was
collected from three vulnerable communities namely urban informal settlements,
large commercial agricultural settlements associated with flower farms, and
female penal institutions where women with young children below 4 years old
are incarcerated. Quantitative data was not collected from the penal institutions
because during the time of the study (at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic),
access to members of the public including researchers was restricted and so here
only qualitative data was collected. The data reported in this article therefore does
not include data from penal institutions.
Results: Findings show that fathers played a major role in childcare according to
74% of respondents in Kenya and 57.7% in Ethiopia. This involvement is mainly
defined in terms of providing financial support for basic needs for the family
and child and for accessing health care. Some fathers were found to be either
minimally involved or not involved at all. Key reasons advanced for minimal
engagement included fathers having either left home permanently, had another
family, was working far from home or was working long hours. Findings regarding
care arrangements established that significant proportions of children had been
left behind without adult supervision. Neighbors and siblings younger than
18 years provided most of the alternative care. House helps also accounted for
20.3% of care in Ethiopia with none being registered for Kenya. Daycare services
only accounted for 13.4% of care in Kenya and 6.3% in Ethiopia, respectively.
Conclusion: The findings revealed that fathers are fairly involved in childcare even
mainly through providing necessary resources. Significantly high proportions of
children were left under the care of their underage siblings leading to questions
of the safety of these children. Parents and guardians in these settlements had
access to a mix of care arrangements including both unpaid and paid neighbors,
toddler’s siblings and in limited cases, daycare services. The low levels of utilization
of daycare services indicate either limited services or inability to pay for the same.
It is recommended that governments consider investing in childcare services in
informal settlements.
Description
Article
Keywords
childcare, Kenya, Ethiopia, father involvement, childcare arrangements, caregiving
Citation
Owino GE and Yigezu M (2023) The role of fathers and care-giving arrangements in informal settlements in Kenya and Ethiopia. Front. Public Health 11:1099568. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1099568