URBANIZATION AND CAREGIVING - A FRAMEWORK FOR ANALYSIS AND EXAMPLES FROM SOUTHERN AND EASTERN AFRICA

This paper considers the role of caregiving on children's health and d evelopment with a special focus on identifying the constraints on effe ctive caregiving in urban areas, and the potential solutions. It uses the extended UNICEF framework for nutrition which suggests that there are six major types of care behaviour:feeding and breast-feeding, food preparation and handling, hygiene behaviour psyche-social care, care for women and home health practices. To ensure adequate care for the c hild, the caregiver needs adequate knowledge and education, physical a nd mental health, autonomy in decision-making, time, and social suppor t from the family and community. This paper describes each of these re sources and constraints, and two of the behaviour types (breast-feedin g and health care utilization) in the urban areas of eight countries i n eastern and southern Africa. It also presents a matrix highlighting critical constraints on caregiving behaviours in urban areas, and pote ntial solutions, and identifies areas where further research is needed .