MATERNAL EMPLOYMENT, CHILD-CARE, AND NUTRITIONAL-STATUS OF 12-18-MONTH-OLD CHILDREN IN MANAGUA, NICARAGUA

Relationships among women's employment, child care strategies, and nut ritional status of children 12-18 months of age were examined in 80 Ni caraguan households sampled by randomized block design in 10 low incom e urban communities. Multiple regression analyses showed that children of employed mothers (56%) fared better in weight/height than these wh ose mothers were not employed, with and without controlling for socioe conomic status; and maternal education, paternal financial support, ch ild care adequacy, and sex and age of the child. Children with inadequ ate alternate child care (care by a preteen or care at the work place) had lower height for age, even controlling for the same variables and for maternal employment. Differences in 10 caregiving behaviors betwe en families as a function of work status of the mother and adequacy of child care were examined. In families with working mothers, caregiver s were less likely to be observed washing their hands, suggesting that the positive associations of work for earnings might be due to income rather than improved care. Inadequate care was associated with less f ood variety, less use of health care, and marginally less handwashing. Inadequate child care, which tends to be associated with informal wor k, nuclear families and poverty, should be a concern for child welfare . (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.