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DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK

UNIVERSITY OF GHANA

CHILDCARE ARRANGEMENTS OF WORKING MOTHERS AT BANTAMA RACE COURSE MARKET IN KUMASI

By

ODURO, RAZAK

(10212200)

A LONG ESSAY PRESENTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK

UNIVERSITY OF GHANA, LEGON IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF A BACHERLOR OF ARTS

(HONS) DEGREE IN SOCIAL WORK

MAY, 2009

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DECLARATION

I do hereby declare that this dissertation is the result of my own research work, with the

exception of specific quotations and ideas attributed to sources duly acknowledged, and it is the

genuine record of the task I set myself.

……………………………….. …………………………………

Dr. Kofi Ohene-Konadu Oduro Razak

(Supervisor) (Student)

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DEDICATION

I dedicate this research to my father Mr. Akwasi Oduro Razak and my Mum Madam

AfuaTawiah for their support to make this study possible.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Thanks to the Almighty God for his abundance grace and guidance given me through my four

years of study on legon campus

I am also grateful to my supervisor, Dr. Kofi Ohene-Konadu, for his advice and constructive

criticism that made this work a reality. I would be remiss if I do not acknowledge Elder Berko

Boateng Samuel for his spiritual support that made my completion a success.

And to all my friends who with their support and encouragement made this work possible

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Abstract

This study investigates the childcare arrangements of working mothers at Bantama Race Course

Market in Kumasi. The study’s objectives are to document the various types of childcare

arrangements that working mothers make to enable them balance their dual role as employee and

mothers. It further examines the factors which influence the use of a type of childcare method as

well as the unique problems that mothers encounter. The views of 100 respondents was sampled

from the target population and the problems stated include fatigue, less time for children, limited

time for cooking among others. The study suggests measures that are needed to address the

integration of family life with work outside the home. These suggestions include subsidization of

formal childcare facilities, establishment of childcare management board, and among others.

This study suggests that the two roles of employment and motherhood are not conflicting but

complementary since mothers do put in place some form of caring arrangements.

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TABLE OF CONTENT

PAGE

DECLARATION i

DEDICATION ii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iii

ABSTRACT iv

TABLE OF CONTENT v

LISTS OF TABLES AND FIGURES vi

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 Introduction 1

1.1 Statement of the Problem 2

1.2 Objectives 3

1.2.1 General Objectives 3

1.2.2 Specific Objectives 3

1.3 Research Questions 4

1.4 Definition of Terms 4

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1.5 Significance of the Study 5

1.6 Theoretical Framework 5

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 Literature Review 7

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 Research Methods 13

3.1 Study Area 13

3.1.1 Location and Size 13

3.1.2 Population Growth 13

3.1.3 Rural-Urban Population 14

3.1.4 Commerce 14

3.1.5 Education 14

3.1.6 Health Service Delivery 14

3.2 Sampling Procedure 15

3.2.1 Target Population 15

3.2.2 Study Population 16

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3.2.3 Sample Size 16

3.2.4 Sampling Design 16

3.3 Methods of Data Collection 16

3.3.1 Primary Sources of Data 16

3.3.2 Secondary Sources of Data 17

3.3.3 Data Handling 18

CHAPTER FOUR

DATA ANALYSIS

Section 1 Socio Demographic Characteristics of Respondents 19

Section 2 Childcare Arrangements 26

Section 3 Factors that influence a mother’s choice of childcare arrangement 31

Section 4 Problems of Working Mothers 35

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 Summary, Recommendation and Conclusion 40

5.1 Summary 41

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5.2 Recommendation 43

5.3 Conclusion 45

BIBLIOGRAPHY

APPENDIX I: Sample of questionnaire used for data collection

LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES

Figures

Figure 1 Age Distribution of Respondents 20

Figure 2 Marital Statuses of Respondents 21

Figure 3 Number of children below 12 years of Respondents 22

Figure 4 Housing Units of Respondents 23

Figure 5 Household Compositions of Respondents 24

Figure 6 Types of Childcare Arrangements 27

Figure 7 Level of Satisfaction 29

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Tables

Table 1 Reporting Time of Respondents to work 25

Table 2 Time Respondents close from work 26

Table 3 Nature of Care given by Helpers 28

Table 4 Housing Unit and the Type of Childcare Arrangements 32

Table 5 Age of the Child and the Type of Childcare Arrangements 34

Table 6 Problems of Working Mothers 36

Table 7 how mothers are affected by their Childcare Arrangement 37

Table 8 how Childcare arrangement affect their children 38

Table 9 Husband’s Attitude towards their wives work 39

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CHAPTER ONE

1.0 Introduction

The changing trend in childcare has resulted in a great deal of public concern in contemporary

times. International donors as well as a considerable number of countries in Latin America, the

Middle East, and parts of Africa have shifted their positions with respect to programming for the

care of young children and their development. This shift is summarized by three international

events that focused the world’s attention on the young child; they are the Convention of the

Rights of the Child, the World Conference on Education for All and World Summit for Children

(GNA/BUPL/UNICEF Report, 1993)

Traditionally, the full responsibility of childcare was totally on women. A woman’s role in the

traditional society was limited to the family because she was occupied by her duties as a mother

and homemaker. The greater bulk of farm work including land clearing, planting, weeding,

harvesting, food processing and distribution of foodstuffs was also performed by women. This

was against the backdrop that the father will work full time to provide for them and their

children. Women therefore see childcare as normal part of their role.

This traditional structure is however currently undergoing serious transformation as a result of

factors such as economic instability, increase in family size, increased urbanization and

migration. Economic instability coupled with high level of unemployment and the tendency of

one to lose his job has resulted in many families adopting several coping mechanisms. Among

these mechanisms is the necessity of women to engage in some form of economic venture to

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supplement the family income. To some extent without the women’s financial assistance, the

family standard of living declines as the family size increases (Prakope, 1971)

The need for women to take up jobs is pronounced where the person is a single-mother or

widowed. In a recent survey, 34% of households in Ghana are female headed (GDHS2003). This

percentage is higher in urban (40%) than in rural areas (29%). Thus, to sustain themselves and

especially their children, women must do a ‘yeoman’s job’ (Schandorf, 1995)

Consequently, many families and households are encouraging and supporting women to work

outside the home as a strategy to offset economic hardships. A substantial proportion of women

are now engaged in full time jobs not only in the formal sector but some informal economic

activities that take most of their time. The implication of these is the neglection of their

traditional roles of childcare and assuming economic responsibilities.

However most of such working mothers have in place some form of arrangements to cater for

their children who they leave behind. Several studies have be done on the kind of arrangements

that working mothers in the formal sector put in place for their children, but this study seeks to

divert from the formal sector to focus on the women in the informal sector and the kind of

arrangement they put in place for their children when they leave for work. The study also seeks

to find out the factors that influences a mother’s choice of childcare method.

1.1Statement of the Problem

With the ever increasing number of women entering into the labour force, the issue of role

conflict has become more and more prevalent. The working mother faces the problem of

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reconciling themselves with the role as workers and as mothers. It is however argued that

mothers can only combine the two roles effectively by putting in place alternative childcare

methods or proper caring arrangements for their children.

What therefore are the childcare arrangements mothers at the Bantama Race Course Market

make to enable them combine the two roles that is work and motherhood successfully?

1.2 Objectives of the Study

1.2.1 General Objectives

The general objective of the study is to examine who takes the responsibility of childcare while

the mother is at work and what factors influence the choice of childcare method.

1.2.2 Specific Objectives

Specifically, the study seeks to;

Examine the type of caring arrangements mothers put in place to cater for their children

while they are at work

Examine the problems working mothers usually encounter in their effort to combine the

two roles of family and work

Examine the factors that influence a mother’s choice of childcare method.

Make recommendations as to how best mothers in the informal sector can put in place

proper caring arrangements for their children.

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1.3 Research Questions

To achieve these objectives, the following research questions will be posed.

Who takes responsibility of childcare while the mother is at work?

What happens to the child while the mother is at work?

What are the problems mothers in this sector usually face in their bid to merge work and

motherhood

What factors influence the choice of a mother’s method of childcare?

What are the necessary measures that can be taking to help mothers in the informal sector

to put in place proper caring arrangement for their children?

1.4 Definition of Terms

Child- A young person below the age of 12 years.

Childcare according to Myers and Indriso (1986) refers to “the process of attending to a

child’s basic need of shelter, protection, food, clothing and health”.

Childcare Arrangements refer to any arrangements that a working mother makes,

delegating her functions to another person while she goes to work.

Working mother is a self-employed woman who is also responsible for and in a parental

relationship with one or more children.

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Formal Childcare Method: this is a situation where the child is placed in institutions such

as Early Childhood Development Centre or Day Care Centre

Informal Childcare Method: this is a situation where the child is left in the hands of

househelps, Grandparents, Neighbours and among others.

1.5 Significance of the Study

Several studies have been conducted on working mothers and childcare arrangements especially

with regard to mothers in the formal sector. However, studies on mothers in the informal sector

with low education, low income and its consequent effect on children are limited.

This investigative and explanatory study will provide some answers to the childcare services

mothers in the informal sector put in place which may aid parents, educators, welfare policy

makers in finding preventive measures to some of these problems.

1.6 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

The Orientation Model of Work and Family

The broad frame of reference throughout the study will be focused on Garey’s (1999)

‘orientation model of work and family’. In this frame, employment and family have been

portrayed dichotomously and women are described either as work-oriented or family-oriented.

However, for men, this is not the case. Work and family are not portrayed as not distracting from

each other. For men, employment is seen as an integral part of what men do as fathers to support

their children; for women, it is considered a zero-sum relationship: the more a woman is oriented

to her work, the less she is said to be oriented to her family. Schwartz (2000) emphasizes this

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point by reiterating that women who want the flexibility to balance their families and their

careers are said not to be adequately committed to their work.

This model, according to Garey, divides the world into two mutually exclusive areas- the public

realm of economic and civic life and the private realm of domestic life. This ideology relegates

women to the domestic arena and hence phrases like “breadwinner father” and “stay-at-home-

mother” are common. Thus, when women are employed, the model cannot accommodate them

very well. Hence, parenthood and employment have become gendered institutions; that is, the

systems of social relations embedded in these social institutions are organized differently for

men and women and these perpetuate gender differences.

The model then obscures the integration of employment and motherhood in women’s lives,

considering them only as being at two extreme ends of a continuum (work and family). The

greatest part of this continuum, the mid-section, which should look at employed women with

children who are combining both work and family, is often the most neglected part of scholarly

work.

Garey’s model thus adequately puts this study into perspective. It points out the obvious

omission of how women combine work with family without having to sacrifice one for the other.

One identifiable factor which meets the need for women to combine both roles is appropriate

childcare arrangements or childcare services which give the mother time to organize and balance

her activities so that she can have her work and also be there for her family. It is this mid-point,

which the model overlooks that this study seeks to address.

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CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

Women labour force participation has been a major issue of concern among scholars, social

psychologists and economists. While others view it from the angle of economic importance,

others look at it from the social spectacle and see it as an evident of social transformation.

Those who view if from the economic perspective claims that the economic exigencies of the

time makes it necessary for women to engage themselves in a wage employment. Inusah and

Ebenezer (2002) argues that everybody wants to have a peaceful home and family, in which

there is unity as well as loving and caring members to live with; a family in which there will be

little or no suffering. But it can be realized that there is an increase in cost of living: prices of

goods and services have been increasing- school fees, rent, electricity bills (or kerosene prices)

all have shot up. So it will be difficult to survive or rely on only the wages or salary of the man

(where he is in a paid job). Times are hard! Therefore there is the need for the woman to help by

taking up a paid job outside the home or increase the rate at which she works. So to supplement

the man’s effort, some women work on part time, full-time or over-time basis, where there is the

opportunity. Thus to sustain themselves and especially their children, women must do a

‘yeoman’s job’ (Schandorf, 1995). Women therefore take up employment because of financial

necessity (Sobol, 1963).

Closely related to economic pressure is the increase in the number of family members. As family

size increases, the living standard of the family also declines and without women’s financial

assistance, the family generally faces difficulties to satisfy the need of family members. Again as

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society keeps on transforming and changing, conditions in society permits the employment of

women simply because more women have access to higher education or some form of education.

Castro-Martins (1998) argue that educational attainment and employment may occur not merely

because education facilitates employment, but also because education is a manifestation of and

stimulation to the achievement motivation. As a result there are a sizeable number of women

entering into professions like banking, medicine etc. and among others which was in the past

dominated by men.

Family sociologists like Becker (1977) contend that the decision to work is made in the light of a

family-building plan and preferences for work and children. Family aspirations and economic

expectations and aspirations are intertwined. Thus, at any given time women who have more

children are less likely to be able to work than women who have fewer or older children.

However empirical research from this perspective has thus far been inconclusive and

unsatisfying. In the view of Bumpass (1990) as family size increases, the living standard declines

and can result into poor nutrition or inadequate provision of resources to feed the family, hence

resorting to coping mechanisms such as the mother taking up jobs to diversify the family

expenditure and improve the standard of living of the family.

However, the entry of women into wage employment is a shift from their traditional role of

childcare and housekeeping. Traditionally, the full responsibility of childcare was totally on the

mother (mothering and nursing children, cooking etc). Women have always worked to produce

goods and services for themselves and their families. In almost every society this work has

included the processing and preparation of food and of clothing, household care and repair, and

similar housekeeping tasks (Hoffman and Nye, 1974). These, women did, for a long time with

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certain restrictions in terms of formal education and also working on paid job outside the home.

It is worthy to note, that this specialization has been viewed by some social researchers as

natural, reflecting the innate abilities appropriate with gender roles assigned by society. It was

also realized that the biological make of males enabled them to get involved in work that demand

a lot of energy or effort, and also bear the extensive difficulties associated with working outside

the home. These qualities were considered lacking in women who were seen as relatively

emotional, physically weak and predisposed to, or most likely to breakdown as a result of their

biological build (Inusah and Cofie, 2002)

Women involvement in wage employment is therefore associated with a social cost. Some

scholars believe that maternal employment do have some effect on the child. Hoffman (1975)

examined separately the relationship between employment and a child characteristic from

various subgroups. Interesting patterns were seen, thus juvenile delinquency did seem to relate

maternal employment in the middle class, although it did not in the lower class. There was

however inconsistencies in his findings with respect to the effects on the child’s independence or

academic achievement. This is because it was tied to the failure to examine these relationships

separately for each sex and the mother’s attitude toward employment was seen as an important

aspect of the situation that would affect her child-rearing behavior and thus mediate the impact

of her employment on the child.

While scholars like Belsky and Eggebeen (1999) contend that maternal employment leads to

gross reduction of time with children and can therefore affect the academic performance of the

children, Hartley (1998) believe that the working mothers serves as a role model. Hartley

observed that one experience to all children of working mothers is that they are “exposed to a

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female parent who implements a social role not implemented by the female parent of other

children”. Since the child learns sex roles from observation of his parents, maternal employment

influences his concept of the female role. More importantly since one of the earliest statuses

assigned to the child is that of gender, maternal employment presumably affects the female

child’s concept of herself and the behavior expected of her.

Another dimension also focuses on the strain of handling the roles of work and motherhood. The

general idea is that whatever the effect of maternal employment under conflict-free

circumstances, the sheer pressure of trying to fill these two demanding roles can result in a state

of stress that, in turn, have negative effect on the child (Joekes, 1987). The most significant

problem working mothers’ encounter is fatigue. The need to do everything (at home and at work)

leaves many mothers physically exhausted and stressed up and hence little attention to their

children (Tetteh, 2005). Stress, resulting from work overload and role conflict according to

(Tsey and Senayah, 2002) also leads to high blood pressure or hypertension and stroke, all of

which are associated with the multiple roles of working women. Women work force participation

is linked to the development and care of their children. As a mother, she is expected to see to the

moral, psychological, and physical development and care of her children. Society also expects

her as wife to make her husband happy by providing food on the table, washing his clothes and

among others. At work she is expected to be achievement oriented, ambitious, aggressive,

dedicated and committed to her work. Moreover it is the expectation of society that whatever a

woman does her foremost priority should be the home. To be successful in each of the multiple

roles requires adequate time and attention. However, all these roles are performed

simultaneously such that as the woman works, she is at the same time expected by the society to

see to the welfare of the family or perform her traditional functions. It is argued to be impossible 20 | P a g e


to perform all the functions at the same time and effectively, without conflict of roles. The

multiple roles of the woman do not only lead to conflict but also role overload or strain, all of

which have associated with stress.

Notwithstanding the social cost, the economic pressures make it necessary for women to

participate in economic activities. The need for women to take up jobs is also highly pronounced

where the person is a single-mother or widowed (that is where the husband dies leaving her with

children to be taken care of without adequate provision for resources). In a recent survey, 34% of

households in Ghana are female-headed. This percentage is higher in urban (40%) than in rural

areas (29%). (Ghana Demographic Health Survey, 2003) As a result most Ghanaian mothers do

not have the option of choosing between work and motherhood. They engage in both, due to this

some social support systems or childcare services serve as an alternative method of childcare for

working mothers. Mothers working in the formal sector cannot carry their children to work

because many offices (private or public) have no space for the children of their staff. Mothers in

the informal sector may have their children with them but these children often interfere with their

output (Bradley, 1999). The result is the marginalized position of the Ghanaian woman, in that,

she is not able to fully exploit her potential at work because of family responsibilities. What has

really contributed to working mothers resorting to other alternative childcare services is the

breakdown of the extended family. Oppong (1994) states socio-economic changes such as

increased urbanization and migration; many families are being forced to move away from the old

securities of the extended family system. In urban areas, in particular, alternatives to traditional

fostering have had to be established. Modern care for some children has consequently become

important in Ghana. Thus a current crisis for women in a number of developing areas of the

world is the lack of maternal role surrogate.21 | P a g e


Childcare arrangement is therefore a critical support system for working mothers. Parents

therefore play an important role to choose from the childcare services available. They choose

from a wide range of options including parent home care, child miners, crèches, and nurseries.

Some mothers also resort to informal care services such as maidservants who look after their

children during working hours. They spend a lot of time with the children and exert significant

influence on them such as the way they talk, eat, the language they often speak with the children

when they are left in their care (Benneh, 1993). One significant factor considered in the choice

of childcare is the concern for a child’s welfare. This is often looked at in relation to the child’s

age and gender. Concern for a child’s welfare explains the desire of working mothers to have

female adult caregivers who besides their natural tendency to provide efficient care are less

likely to sexually molest a child. (Schwinhart’s 1986)

Of particular concern is affordability, that is whether the parent can afford the cost of childcare

or not. Research reveals that parents in the formal sector are able to afford these facilities than

their counterparts in the informal sector. Tetteh (2005) observes that a mother with a higher

education most likely has a higher income and can afford to use formal childcare facilities as

compared to lower income earners’ use of such facilities. In his report on childcare arrangements

in Accra especially those in the formal sector with a relatively high income and who can afford

these facilities, put in place proper care arrangements for their children. However this is

expensive and therefore women in the informal sector (some of them being petty traders) with

little income cannot afford these facilities.

The study therefore seeks to investigate the type of arrangements that women in the informal

sector especially those at the market place put in place to cater for their children in their absence.

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CHAPTER THREE

3.0 RESEARCH METHODS

This section captures the information about the study or research area, its location and size,

population, commerce, education, health service delivery and relevant information about the

research area.

The section will also capture the methods of data collection, sources of data, sampling method

and the sample size, study population, data handling and methods of data analysis.

3.1 Study Area

3.1.1 Location and Size

The Bantama Sub-metro is located at the north western part of the Kumasi Metropolis. It shares

boundary to the north with Atwima Nwabiagya District Assembly, to the east with Suame, Tafo,

and, Asawase Sub-metropolitan councils. It is also boarded on the west by the Kwadaso Sub-

metro council and to the south with Subin and Nyiaeso Sub-metro councils. It is one of the

greatest metropolises in the Ashanti Region and covers a total landscape of about 202 sq km.

3.1.2 Population Growth

The 2000 National Population and Housing Census put the sub-metro’s population at 110,831

with annual growth rate of about 5.1%. The projected population for the year 2006 is therefore

554,155. The growth of the population is mainly due to the influence of migration inflows. The

structure of the population has about 51% males and 49% females with an average household

size of 4.9%. Bantama has about 7,056 houses. Householders as at the year 2000 is 22,548. Most

of these houses are storey buildings especially in the main Bantama Township.

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3.1.3 Rural-Urban Population

The urban/peri urban population constitutes 100% of the sub-metro total population. The

metropolis is therefore predominantly urban. Indeed the level of urbanization is above the

national average of 43.4%. It is however important to note that the urban population resides in

about the entire land area. This indicates a densely populated urban area with its associated

pressure on social infrastructure and land. Land litigation, encroachment on few open spaces,

overcrowding and construction of illegal structures are some of the development challenges the

sub-metro has to manage.

3.1.4 Commerce

The major economic activity points are the Bantama main market, the Kumasi Race Course

which is the study population is being used as the major market centre in the metropolis with the

Bantama High street playing as complementary roles. The Race Course market is a complex

market which provides services to traders in and around Kumasi. It functions daily with

Saturdays as major market days. Items traded in the market include perishable and non-

perishables like manufactured commodities, foodstuffs and among others. The strategic location

of the market with good accessibility has facilitated the growth leading to congestion and spill-

off onto the nearby roads.

3.1.5 Education

Educational infrastructure is distributed quite fairly in the metropolis. The sub-metro can boost

of 5 senior high schools, 1 nursing training college, 1 private teacher training college, 1

commercial school, 11 kindergarten schools, 13 primary schools, 13 junior high schools. There

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are also 32 Early Childhood Development Centers (ECDC) most of which are privately owned.

Private owned schools at all levels are more than the public schools. Not surprising though,

pupils in private schools have better infrastructure than their public school counterparts in the

metropolis. Since most of the schools are privately owned, it promotes the tendency of negating

the expected benefit from reforms in the educational sector in the metropolis especially the poor

who use the public facilities.

3.1.6 Health Service Delivery

Bantama has one of the best Teaching Hospitals in Ghana specifically the Okomfo Anokye

Teaching Hospital, which also serve as the referral center for the northern sector of the country.

The sub-metro can also boost of one government hospital the Suntreso Hospital and a number of

private clinics, maternal health post and private laboratories in addition to the laboratories in the

various hospitals.

3.2 SAMPLING PROCEDURE

3.2.1 Target Population

The research targets working mothers at Bantama Race Course market who are responsible for or

in a parental relationship with their children. A sample size of 100 respondents was selected from

the target group.

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3.2.2 Study Population

The research seeks to study working mothers at Bantama Race Course market with at least one

child below the age of twelve (12). Mothers with children above the specified age bracket were

not interviewed. This is because children above 12 usually receive little care and cannot fall into

the study. The study therefore focuses on children below the specified age bracket who require

adequate care and the needed attention.

3.2.3 Sample Size

The sample size for the study was 100 respondents randomly selected from the target population.

Working mothers with children below the age of twelve (12) were sampled for the study.

3.2.4 Sampling Design

The method of non-probability sampling thus purposive sampling was used in the selection of

the respondents. When the respondents were purposively sampled, a simple random design was

used to sample the target group respondents to answer the questionnaire. The rationale for using

this sampling technique was to ensure that the respondents really fall into the target group.

3.3 METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION

Data were collected from two main sources namely primary sources and secondary sources.

3.3.1 Primary Sources of data

This research is both qualitative and quantitative research where data was drawn for the study.

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Qualitative Research Methods

Key informant interview was used to collect the data obtained. Here the Market Queen was

interviewed to collect relevant information especially information about how mothers can put in

place proper caring arrangement for their children and also some form of social control

mechanisms they have put in place to regulate mothers not to bring their young children to work.

Also the sub-metro director was interviewed to collect information about the sub-metro profile to

know the major economic activities in the metropolis and how they tackle problems that arise

from the market especially their reaction to mothers who bring their young children to work.

Quantitative Research Methods

The main instrument used for data collection was a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire

was self-administered. However, where the respondent was illiterate, the questionnaire was

administered by the researcher to the respondent.

Questionnaires were designed around the objectives of the study. Most of the questions were

open-ended questions and close-ended question was use to complement the open questions. The

open-ended questions permitted the respondent to freely express his/her views on particular

issues and gave a justification for their answers.

Face-to-face interview was also used to gather information from respondents after the

researcher oriented the respondents about the purpose and nature of the research. This involved

soliciting information from respondents through verbal interaction. Respondents were to come

out with the various reasons why they preferred a childcare method to the other.

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3.3.2 Secondary Sources of data

The secondary source of data was used to complement the primary data. The secondary source

was generated from Population and Housing Census, Demographic and Health Surveys, reports

on the research area, profile from the Bantama Sub-metro units, libraries, internet and related

articles.

3.3.3 Data Handling

Editing: The data obtained was then edited to correct errors and spelling mistakes to make

sure that any inconsistencies that occurred in answering the questions were accurate.

Coding Scheme: After careful editing, a coding scheme was prepared. All the varied

answers given to questions in each questionnaire were seriously examined and categorized

into the main trends to facilitate coding and subsequent analysis. This also helped to

overcome the varied answers provided.

Coding: Each completed questionnaire was particularized by assigning serial numbers

ranging from 01 to 100 for the hundred questionnaires administered. The aim was to help

identify a particular questionnaire. This process also helped in the cross checking with

respondents and processing of data.

Descriptive statistics was then employed in analyzing the data obtained from the field. Simple

analytical tools were used to analyze the data. The result obtained was presented in tables, charts,

averages and percentages. The tables and charts were drawn, taking into consideration the

objective of the study. A great deal of tolerance and patience was employed to ensure that a good

work was done.

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CHAPTER FOUR

DATA ANAYLSIS

This chapter seeks to investigate the childcare arrangements that working mothers in the

informal sector put in place for their children below twelve (12) years when they leave them for

their workplace. It also reveals the level of satisfaction of the type of childcare and the problems

that working mothers face. The chapter is in four sections and is arranged as follows:

Section 1: Socio-demographic characteristics of respondents.

Section 2: Childcare Arrangements of working mothers.

Section 3: Factors that influence a mother’s choice of childcare arrangement.

Section 4: Problems of working mothers.

SECTION 1: SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF RESPONDENTS

This section analyses the social and demographic characteristics of respondents. It captures the

age of the respondents, marital status, number of children below twelve (12) years of

respondents, household composition (thus whether mothers live with their children), housing

units, and the time mothers arrive at work and close from work.

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Section 1.1: Age of Respondents

The respondents were asked about their ages and the responses are illustrated below.

Figure 1: Age Distribution of Respondents

Source: fieldwork, 2009

From the sample, majority of women fell between the ages 30-34 representing 40%, with 25%

into the age bracket 25-29. 35% fell into 35-39 age brackets and smaller number fell into age

bracket 40+ representing 5% of the respondents. Working mothers between the ages 25-39

represents the economically active group who one way or the other had worked. It also indicates

that the active reproductive age normally have to deal with the incidence of having children and

the responsibility of providing adequate childcare for their children.

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Section 1.2 Marital Statuses of Respondents

Respondents were asked about their status of marriage, whether they were still married,

divorced or widowed and whether they were separated from their husbands. The responses are

illustrated as follows.


At the time of the study 10% of the respondents were separated, 72% were still in marriage, 6%

were divorced and 12% were widowed. The highest percentage being still in marriage could be

attributed to the importance or the emphasis on marriage in our Ghanaian society ensuring that

most women by a certain age would or should be married. Also childbearing is also appreciated

more within the context of marriage set up. This again presupposes that both couple can pull

resources together and have more disposable income to put in place proper caring arrangements

for their children.

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Section 1.3: Number of Children below 12years of Respondents

The research targeted working mothers with children below the age 12. This is because it is at

this age brackets that children need adequate care which necessitate the mother to provide for

alternative childcare whiles at work. Mothers in parental relationship with children above the

specified age brackets were not interviewed. The number of children of mothers below 12 years

is illustrated below.


Working mothers with children between the age brackets 1-6 years represented 65% of the

hundred respondents with 35% representing working mothers with children between the age

brackets 7-12 of the total respondents. It was found that children who needed the most care and

adequate support were in the 1-6 years age brackets. This is an indication of the number of

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working mothers who need to provide alternative childcare method for their children and also

provide adequate support and childcare.

Section 1.4: Housing Unit

The researcher asked the type of housing unit in which they live. This is because the type of

housing unit can inform the choice of childcare arrangement respondents put in place. The

responses are as follows.


From the table, 35% of the 100 respondents lived in extended family house, 50% lived in nuclear

family house and 15% lived in rented compound house. From the researcher’s point of view, the

type of housing unit can aid mothers to choose a specific kind of care arrangements for their

children.

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Section 1.5: Household Composition

Respondents were asked whether they live together with their children as this can help the

researcher to find out the caring arrangements made. This is because whether they live together

with their children or not suggests a childcare arrangement. The responses are as follow.

Figure 5: Household Composition of Respondents


It can be deduced from the above that 92% of respondents had their children living with them at

the time of the study and 8% had their children living with someone else. These were children

aged 10 years and above and were children of mothers who one way or the other was divorced or

widowed and had their children living with grandparents or close relatives.

Section 1.6: Arrival at Work

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Central to the study respondents were asked the time they usually come to work. This is

important because it can inform what respondents put in place before coming to work and

whether mothers leave the house before their children go to school or after the children had left

for school. The responses are as follows.

Table 1: Table showing the reporting time of respondents for work

Reporting Time No. of Respondents Percentage

Come to work early 50 50

Before children live for school 45 45

No specific time 5 5

Total 100 100


From the table, 50% of respondents reported they come to work early because there is usually

high market for their products in the morning and also to avoid traffic because they leave far

away from the market. As a result they delegate their other duties to the care givers. These were

usually mothers who had children from 6-11 years and felt these children could dress for school.

45% reported that they wait for their children to go to school before coming to work. Though

some complained they usually do not catch the morning market but had to seek for their

children’s welfare. 5% had no specific time before coming to work since the nature of their

goods are seasonal and usually come to the market when there is ready market for their goods.

Section 1.7: Time respondents close from work

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On the other hand respondents were asked the time they usually close from work. This is to

inform the study whether mothers close early to take care of the children themselves or close late

from work when their children had already returned from school. The time mothers’ close from

work can also influence the specific arrangements they put in place. The responses are tabulated

below.

Table 2: Table showing the time respondents close from work

Closing Time No. of Respondents Percentage

Close around 2.30pm 25 25

Close around 4.30pm 65 65

No specific time 10 10

Total 100 100


From the table 65% of the respondents reported they usually leave the workplace around 4.30pm.

They explained that it is around this time that their counterparts in the formal sector close from

work and have to wait for them to make their purchases. 25% of the respondents reported they

usually close around 2.30pm because around that time their children had close from school and

has to go home to prepare food for them. 10% reported they usually do not have specific time for

closing because they usually wait for majority of their goods to finish before living.

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Section 2: CHILDCARE ARRANGEMENTS

With the ever increasing number of women entering into the labour force, the issue of role

conflict has become more and more prevalent. The working mother faces the problem of

reconciling themselves with the role as workers and as mothers. It is however argued that

mothers can only combine the two roles effectively by putting in place alternative childcare

methods or proper caring arrangements for their children. It is upon this that this section

documents the specific type of childcare arrangements mothers put in place.

Section 2.1: Types of Childcare Arrangements

Central to the study, respondents were asked as to the specific type of childcare arrangement they

put in place whiles they are at work and the responses are as follows.


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It was found that only 8% of the respondents used the daycare centres (formal services) whereas

the remaining 92% use different form of informal services. This could be due to the fact that

women in the informal sector could not pay for formal child care services. However with regards

to the informal care services or arrangements there were differentials in terms of the type of

childcare arrangements. 6% resort to househelps as one respondent stated that “I can’t even take

care of my family left alone to bring in someone else to be taken care of”. 25% of the total

respondents adopt the personal care self help approach where the mother close early from work

to take care of the children herself. These were usually mothers who were single (thus female

headed households) and could be that they do not have enough resources to hire househelps. 26%

of the respondents resort to their elder daughters as alternative childcare. This could be that they

live in nuclear family household. This I think is prudent for mothers working in the informal

sector especially the market with limited resources to adopt this method. Mothers who resort to

this method stated that they have trained their children and can assume the responsibility for

caring for their younger siblings. These were children above twelve years and are in junior high

schools. A significant number of respondents constituting 20% used neighbours as alternative

childcare service. The neighbours were usually mothers who had stores or shops around the

neighbourhood and were always around. Some mothers reported that this method has helped

them to save time for their work.

Section 2.2: Nature of Care given by Helpers

The respondents were asked about the role played by helpers in their absence. This is to know

whether mothers push their caring responsibilities as required to other care givers and the

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specific activity the helpers perform to ensure the welfare of the children. The response of the

hundred respondents is tabulated below

Table 3: Table showing the nature of care given by helpers

Nature of Care Number of Respondents Percentage

Cooking 65 65

Feeding 20 20

Bathing 10 10

Not specified 5 5

Total 100 100


As to the nature of care given by helpers, 65% of the respondents stated their helpers cook for

their children when they are not at home, 20% reported their helpers feed their children (these

were children below 6 years) with 10% playing the role of bathing the children and 5% did not

specify the nature of care given by their helpers. The nature of care given is very important for

the development of children. From the above, care givers really show their interest in welfare of

the children left in their care. Mothers were therefore satisfied as to the nature of care given as

discussed below.

Section 2.3: Level of Satisfaction

With respect to the nature of care given by helpers, respondent were asked whether they were

satisfied with the care given to their children and the responses are as follows

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From the above it can be found that 80%, (45% + 35%) were satisfied as to the nature of care

given. 18% were quite satisfied whiles 2% did not specify whether they were satisfied or not.

Most mothers were genuinely satisfied as to the nature of care given by helpers. This could be

that the person who resumed the role of childcare was very close to the mother. Mothers who

placed their children in the care of their elder daughters and grandparents were very satisfied as

to care given. With respect to the differentials in the level of satisfaction, mothers were probed to

find out why they prefer one type of caring arrangement to the other and the response is

discussed below.

Section 2.4: Preference Level

Respondents were asked why they preferred one type of caring arrangement to the other. 32%

preferred their elder daughters because they believe that since their daughters are part of the

family and were nurtured by them; their daughters could take good care of the other children.

Mothers also stated that since they have trained their children, they can prepare good food, bath 40 | P a g e


them and wait till they come. 10% preferred neighbours to househelps and stated they do not

have money to hire househelps. However 15% preferred their grandparents to neighbours and

stated the neighbours may neglect the child and attend to other duties and since they are not their

biological children proper care cannot be given. 35% preferred adopting personal care approach

by taking their children to school before going to work and closing early from work to take of the

children themselves. Quite a number of respondents (8%) stated that daycare centres are

beneficial because they are able to concentrated on their work without worrying about their

children since the providers of these services bring the children home themselves. 92% of the

respondents seems to prefer informal childcare arrangements to formal institutions (such as day

care centres).

Section 3.0 FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE A MOTHER’S CHOICE OF CHILDCARE

ARRANGEMENT.

Working mothers do have various options to choose the type of caring arrangement for their

children. They choose from a wide range of services available and parents are actively involved

in the choice of a specific type of childcare arrangement they put in place for their children. The

factors that account for their choice of childcare arrangements have been attributed to various

reasons. The study therefore documents some of the factors that affect the choice of childcare

arrangements working mothers put in place for their children whiles at work.

Section 3.1 Resource Availability and Childcare Arrangements

The issue of the resources available to the mother is one of the major factors influencing the

choice of childcare method. Whether the mother can afford a service or not is the major

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determinant of a care arrangement. From the various types of childcare arrangements

documented in section 2.1 it can found that 92% of mothers relied heavily on informal childcare

methods that is a situation where the child is placed in the hands of househelps, grandparents,

neighbours, elder daughters/siblings etc. Eventhough 6% used househelps which requires

monetary factors; significant number of them preferred cost-free associated supporting systems

as alternative childcare method. 8% relied on formal method of childcare that is a situation where

the child is placed in institutions such Early Childhood Development Center or Day Care

Centres. This could be that mothers who used formal childcare methods had enough resources

and mostly those living with their husbands. It could also be that mothers who used day care

centers think househelps or elder siblings are inexperienced and not responsible enough to

provide adequate childcare. Despite the benefits of the formal childcare method, working

mothers at the market place at the time of the study most often were limited in material

(financial) resources and thus defines the type of childcare arrangement that they may use.

This confirms the work of (Tetteh 2005) reviewed in the literature that working mothers in the

informal sector have limited to use formal childcare method as their alternative childcare service.

The cost associated with these childcare facilities influences most mothers to choose on childcare

method to the other.

Section 3.2 Housing Units and Childcare Arrangements

It is argued that the type of housing unit influences the choice of childcare arrangements, so the

researcher therefore went on to ask respondents what inform their choice of a type of caring

arrangements and the responses are cross tabulated below

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Table 4: Table showing Housing units and the Type of caring arrangements of Respondents

Housing Units Types of Childcare Arrangements

%

Grandparents Elder Daughters

Day care centres

Neighbours Personal care

Househelps

Extended family house

10 25 35

Nuclear family house

21 4 20 5 50

Rented compound house

4 7 4 15


From the table the 35% of respondents living in the extended family relied heavily on

grandparents and their elder daughters as alternative childcare method. 50% of respondents

living in nuclear family houses (comprising the husband, mother and children) resort to different

caring methods. 21 out of the 50 respondents rely on their elder daughters. Respondents

explained that their children come home with their elder sister and their sisters resume the

responsibility of caring. Only 4 out of the 50 respondents resorts to day care centres and

explained they can pay for their services. 20 out the 50 respondents adopt the self help or

personal care approach by closing early from work to cook and feed their children. 5 out the 50

hire househelps as alternative childcare method. 15% of respondents living in rented houses also

had differing childcare services. 4 out the 15 take their children to day care centres, 7 resorts to

neighbours around them, and 4 adopting the personal care approach as they intermittently come

home early to take of their children.

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Section 3.3: The Age of the Child (ren) and Type of Childcare Arrangements.

The age of the child has been a major concern for most working mothers. The issue of what age

should I live my children in the hands of other care givers influence a mother choice of childcare

method. Respondents were therefore asked what age do they normally live their children in the

hands of other care givers. The response is cross tabulated below.

Table 5: Table showing the age of the child and the type of childcare arrangement

Age of the child(years)

Types of Childcare Arrangements

%Grandparents Elder Daughters Day care

centresNeighbours Personal

careHousehelps

1-4 5 8 13 26

5-8 7 18 10 8 6 49

9-12 3 8 10 4 25


From the table it can be deduced that mothers live their children to other helpers at specific age

brackets. Mothers with children between the age brackets 1-4 representing 26% of the hundred

respondents used different caring methods. Most mothers with children between this age

brackets used the day care centre. This could that this facility is a development centre and

mothers believe the child will have adequate childcare at that age. 13 respondents used the self

help personal care approach, with 5 of the respondents living the child in the hands of

grandparents. This could be that the grandparents are repository of caring services and can

properly care of the children. Children in this age bracket were not left in the hands of

househelps or elder daughters. This could be that they are inexperienced and cannot be

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responsible to cater for children between age brackets 1-4. Mothers also with children between

the age brackets 5-8 constituting 49% of the respondents used different alternatives with a

significant number using their elder daughters/sibling with 10 of the respondents living their

children with neighbours. Again there were differentials in the method used by mothers with

children between the age brackets 9-12. At this age 10 of the respondents lived their children

with neighbors. This could be that at this age the child can begin do things on their own with

little supervision from care givers. The age of the child is therefore one of the most factors that

others consider in choosing one childcare method to the other. There is therefore a relationship

between the age of the child and specify type of childcare arrangements that mothers employ.

4.0 PROBLEMS OF WORKING MOTHERS

It is evident from the fore going discussions that mothers now do not have the option of choosing

between work and motherhood. They engage in both and as a result face some problems in their

efforts to combine work and family. The working mother is thus playing multiple roles of wife,

mother, and a worker, as well as performing domestic chores or responsibilities. It is however

argued that mothers do lay down some arrangements for their children and they usually do not

forget their traditional normal role as prescribed by society. Research has however established

that employment of women has some positive consequences. Employment thus result in

improved health status, improved family life and job satisfaction and the expansion of resources

in the form of money, make them economically independent and empowered. Some

psychologists also contend that the positive aspect depends on the quality of work and among

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other factors. As a result mothers were therefore asked as to some of the problem they face in

their desire to do everything at home and at work to achieve excellence.

Section 4.1 Types of Problems Working Mothers Usually Encounter.

Respondents were asked the problems they usually encounter in their efforts to combine the role

of work and childcare to achieve excellence. Though mothers usually put in place some form of

caring arrangements whiles at work, they usually show great concern about their children and

normally rush home and by so doing encounter some problems. Some of the problems mothers

reported are tabulated as follows.

Table 6: Table showing problems of working mothers

Problems No. of Respondents Percentage

Fatigue/Tiredness 45 45

Not enough time for children 25 25

Not enough time for cooking 15 15

Limited time for husband 10 10

No difficulty 5 5

Total 100 100


From the table 45% of respondents encounter fatigue/tiredness as the desire to do everything

leaves many mothers exhausted and stressed up. 25% of respondents complain bitterly that they

do not have enough time for children because they usually do not get transport to the house early.

15% of respondents face the problem of not getting enough time for cooking, 10% encounter the

problem of not having enough time for their husbands and explained this often threatens the

stability of their marriages. 5% of the respondents explained they do not face any problem since 46 | P a g e


they attend to one thing at a time. Working mothers are consequently overloaded with work and

heavily experience role-strain in an attempt to achieve excellence.

Section 4.2: How Childcare Arrangements Affect Mothers Personally.

The role of childcare is normally the responsibility of the mother and as part of the problems

working mothers encounter they were asked whether delegating their childcare roles to other

helpers affect them personally or otherwise. The response of the hundred respondents is

tabulated below.

Table 7: Table showing how mothers are affected by their childcare arrangement

Reasons given about why they are affected No. of Respondents Percentage

Feel unsecured and left out from their children lives 25 25

Less concentration on their work 40 40

Less control of the children 30 30

Save time for work 5 5

Total 100 100


From the table 25% of working mothers complained they feel unsecured and are left out of their

children’s lives. Respondents in this category felt that since they are always at work they feel

guilty because they have moved from their traditional roles to assume full responsibility of

working. Some respondents reported that due to economic hardship they have adopted this

strategy to offset the family income. This feeling of guilt could be related to the awareness of

unmet household needs, being away from the family especially the children, denial of their own

personal needs. 40% of the respondents also reported that when they are at work they have

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divided attention, always thinking about where their children are and therefore have less

concentration about their work. 30% of the hundred respondents reported they have less control

over their children. This is because they usually get home late and by the time they get home

their children have already slept. 5% of the respondents also stated their childcare arrangements

provide them with adequate time and concentration on their work indicating the positive aspect

of the childcare arrangement.

4.3 How Childcare Arrangements Affect their Children

Respondents were asked whether the arrangements they put in place affect their children or

otherwise. This is because children are usually left in the hands of other care givers, who on one

way or the other might attend to other duties or responsibilities they are tasked with and as a

result may have little attention for these children. Reasons given by the respondents are tabulated

below.

Table 8: Table showing how childcare arrangements affect children

Reasons given about how their children are affected No. of Respondents Percentage

Children are not well fed 60 60

Inadequate motherly care 35 35

Not Specified 5 5

Total 100 100


From the table, 60% out of the hundred respondents stated their children are not well fed when

left in the hands of other care givers. This, to me, results in malnutrition among the children and

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inhibits their development. 35% complained their children do not receive adequate motherly

care. This is a problem because when mothers are not attached or involved in the activities of

their children it leads to some adverse effects such as child delinquency and its related problems.

5% were not certain as whether their arrangement has affected their children or not. As one

respondents stated “if someone has taken the responsibility of caring for my children what

should I complain of”. These were usually mothers who were very committed to their work and

get home late in the evening. The responsibility of childcare in the hands of care givers deny

children of the emotional, social and the psychological support needed from their mothers.

4.4 Husband’s Attitude towards their wives work.

In relation to their work, respondents were asked about their husband’s attitude towards their

work. This is to find out whether their husbands want their wives to stay in the house to take care

of the children or supports the idea of combining the two roles and delegating their

responsibilities to others.

Table 9: Table showing husband’s attitudes towards their wives work

Husband’s Attitude No. of Respondents Percentage

Supports their work 80 80

Grumble about the work 12 12

Indifferent 8 8

Resent their work - -

Total 100 100


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From the table 80% of the respondents’ husbands support their work as one respondent state that

“my husband cannot blame me for my work since there is no enough money in the house”.

Husbands support the work of their wives by encouraging them since dual worker income places

them in a better position to take care of the children. 12% grumbles about their wives’ work and

complains quietly whereas 8% have their husbands being indifferent to their work. Mothers in

the informal sector at the time of the study are encouraged and supported by their husbands to

work for the upkeep of the family.

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CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 SUMMARY, RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION

5.1 Summary

The most revolutionary change in the Ghanaian family in the 21st Century has been the increase

in the labour force participation of women, particularly married women with younger children.

Most women are now employed on full time basis in the formal sector with some assuming top-

most position in those sectors and significant proportion of them engaging in some form of

informal economic activities. The nature of some of these activities is such that they have to

leave very early from home as early as 6am to the workplace and return very late in the evening.

As a result working mothers in the formal sector resort to several childcare arrangements for

their children at early ages some as early as 6 month old. Most of these childcare arrangements

are formal and very expensive and require significant proportion of their income. It is therefore

argued that the income of mothers in the formal sector is relatively high and can afford these

caring arrangements. The issue is now on the mothers in the informal sector with relatively low

income which the study seeks to address.

The general objective of the study is to examine the specific childcare arrangement mothers in

the informal sector with particular emphasis on mothers working at the market place put in place

for their children below 12 years while they are at work. The data collected from the field

suggests that a significant number of mothers rely heavily on their elder daughters/siblings

constituting 26% of the hundred respondents with 25% of the respondents adopting the self help

personal care approach where the mother takes the child to school before coming to work and 51 | P a g e


returns home early to take care of the child. 20% of the respondents relied on neighbours with

15% using grandparents as alternative childcare service. This could be that the research area is

highly urbanized and most of the respondents had migrated to settle around the area resulting to

nucleate families leading to loss of old form of extended family security. 8% of the respondents

used day care centres with 6% relying on househelps as alternative childcare method.

The researcher therefore went on to ask respondents what actually influence their choice of

childcare arrangement. The respondents therefore stated the factors contributing to why they

preferred one type of childcare arrangement to the other. The factors include resource

availability, housing units and the age of the child. The resource (financial or material) of the

mother influence their choice of childcare method and accounts for why only 8% placed their

children in day care centres as a formal method of childcare service and 6% using househelps.

This is because these childcare services require monetary value and mothers could not afford

them. This therefore confirms the work of Tetteh (2005) reviewed in the literature that mothers

in the informal sector have relatively low income and cannot afford the modern form of childcare

arrangements. Another factor which mothers consider in choosing a specific type of childcare

arrangement is type of housing unit the mother lives in that is whether it is extended family

house, nuclear family house or rented compound house. As shown in section 4.2 mothers living

in extended family house resorted to grandparents and elder siblings as alternative childcare

method. Mothers living in nuclear family houses also resorted to their elder daughters,

househelps, and day care centres as their childcare arrangement. Mothers living in rented

compound houses also used neighbours as alternative childcare. There is therefore a positive

relationship between the type of housing unit mothers live in and the specific caring arrangement

they put in place. From section 4.2 it is clear that mothers living in rented houses did not have 52 | P a g e


their grandparents with them to use them as an alternative. And also one cannot live in an

extended family house and hire a househelp. The type of housing unit therefore influences a

mother’s choice of childcare arrangement. Final factor that a mother consider before choosing a

specific type of caring arrangement is the age of the child thus at what age should a mother live

her child in the hands of other care givers. Mothers with children between the ages brackets 1-4

used the personal care approach (13%), day care centres (8%) with 5% using grandparents.

Mothers with children between the age brackets 5-8 used grandparents (7%), elder daughter

(18%), neighbours (10%), personal care (8%) and househelps (6%). Finally mothers with

children between the age brackets 9-12 used grandparents (3%), elder daughters/siblings (8%),

personal care (4%), and neighbours constituting 10%. From the result it is clear mothers with

children between the ages brackets 1-4 did not live their children with their elder daughters or

neighbours because their elder daughters are inexperienced to take care of the young child and

neighbours may not have great attention for children because at that age the child needs adequate

care. The age of the child therefore accounts for the reason why a mother prefers one caring

arrangement to the other.

Working mothers in their bid to merge work and motherhood encounter some problems though

there usually put in place some form of caring arrangements. As a result respondents were asked

to state some of the problems they face. 45% of the respondents reported they usually experience

fatigue/tiredness, 25% stated do not have enough time for their children, 15% not having enough

time for cooking, 10% experiencing limited time for husband with 5% facing no difficulty.

As part of the problems mothers encounter, they were asked whether the childcare arrangement

affects them personally. 25% reported that they feel unsecured and left out from their children

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lives, 40% stated they usually have less concentration for their work since they have divided

attention while at work, 30% also complained they have loss control over their children with 5%

experiencing a positive effect of having time for their work.

Again mothers were asked whether the arrangement affects their children and 60% stated their

children are not well fed, 35% stated their do not have adequate motherly care with 5% not

specifying whether their caring arrangements affects their children or otherwise. Mothers were

also asked as to their husband’s attitude towards their work and a significant number (80%)

stating their husband’s supports their work, 12% grumble about their wives work with 8% being

indifferent to their work. This shows that husbands actually show a great concern for their wives

work and it could be that the economic exigencies of the day accounts for their support for them

to have dual worker income to provide the basic necessities for their children. Husbands

therefore contribute towards housekeeping and the need for women to work to supplement the

family expenditure is now the means for living during the time of the study.

5.2 Recommendations

Work and motherhood has become a major concern and since it is inevitable measures that will

help women to combine both roles must be identified and implemented. Some views of the

respondents were sort as to the various measures necessary for implementation and it includes

the following.

Subsidization of modern/formal childcare facilities

The data collected suggests that mothers in the informal sector especially mothers working at the

market place cannot afford formal childcare facilities because of its expensive nature. Formal

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childcare method includes day care centres and early childhood development centres. Managers

of these facilities ensure that the child is in a safe custody, takes them to their various homes, and

ensures that the child is left in the hands of their parents. It is argued that since mothers working

in the formal sector have relatively high income they can afford these facilities. The various

Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDA’s) should therefore take it upon

themselves to help subsidize these facilities in their area for mothers in the informal sector to

afford them for better upbringing of their children.

Establishment of National Childcare Facility Fund

There is the need for a national childcare fund in various Metropolitan, Municipal and District

Assemblies (MMDA’s) to address the needs of employed women irrespective of the sector of

employment, which can result in the general benefit of society. The fund can therefore cover the

training of child caregivers, provision of childcare facilities, regulation of day care centres and

among others. Corporate organizations, Non-Governmental Organizations, Individuals in these

areas can donate or pay a levy to provide basic material support for children and providers of

childcare facilities and among other factors.

Establishment of Childcare Management Board

There is the need for a childcare management board which shall be responsible for making

recommendations for a national plan of action against delinquency and any other form of vices

which can affect the development of children. The board can also monitor and report on the

progress of a national plan of action through the various agencies to the department of social

welfare. The board can also provide assistance on the investigation of any case that will happen

55 | P a g e


in the childhood development centres which will put providers of these facilities on board to be

responsible for any negligence or abuse that will happen in the center.

Incentives for working mothers

Providing incentives of various forms for mothers will help support them to meet their childcare

responsibilities. As one respondent recommended that credit facilities be given to mothers to

enable them expand and sustain their businesses, thus providing adequate income for childcare.

This request is being addressed somewhat by some Non-Governmental Organizations and the

government. What is being advocated for is expansion of these services to a lot more women

especially those at the marketplace.

5.3 Conclusion

The data gathered showed that all mothers made some form of childcare arrangement as most

literatures suggest that some mothers left their children unattended especially because of

economic constraints. The study showed that mothers, no matter their level of poverty made

some form of arrangements, providing care for their children themselves that is closing early

from work to provide for the children. The researcher therefore concludes there is a great

interconnection between work, family and recreation. Hence the need for security for both

mothers and children and the need for interdependence drive most women to work. We cannot

therefore do away with work and family, hence the need for men, women, and the entire society

to restructure their conceptions about women’s work especially in this time of economic

exigencies to help mothers put in place proper childcare arrangements. Husbands should

therefore be supportive and work in hand with their wives to put in place proper caring

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arrangements for their children to avoid the potency of disrupting the children and the entire

society.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

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Children of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth”. Journal of Marriage and the Family 53:1083-98

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APPENDIX I

UNIVERSITY OF GHANA

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK

This Research is purely an academic exercise so your honest response to the questions would be

appreciated. All respondents are assured of confidentiality.

PART A: SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF RESPONDENTS.

1. Age …………………………………years.

2. Number of children………………………..

3. How many are below the age of 12……………………?

4. Marital status

Separated [ ] Divorced [ ]

Married [ ] Widowed [ ]

5. What type of housing unit do you live in?

Extended family house

Nuclear family house

Rented Compound house

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6. What time do you normally come to the market……………………………?

7. What time do you normally close from work……………………………………….?

PART B: TYPES OF CHILDCARE ARRANGEMENTS

8. Do your children live with you? Yes [ ] No [ ]

9. Do they accompany you to work? Yes [ ] No [ ]

10. What type of childcare arrangement do you put in place for your children

House help [ ] Grandparent [ ] Day care [ ]

Neighbours [ ] Friends [ ] other (pls specify)…………………….

11. What role does the person play in taking care of the

children……………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………….?

12. Are you satisfied with the care given to the children? Yes [ ] No [ ]

13. If yes, how will you rate the level of satisfaction?

Fair [ ] Good [ ] Average [ ] Very Good [ ]

PART C: PROBLEMS OF WORKING MOTHERS

14. What problem do you usually face in your effort to combine work and family?

………………………………………………………………………………………………

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15. How has your childcare arrangement affected you personally……………………

………………………………………………………………………………………….?

16. How has your childcare arrangement affected your children………………………..

……………………………………………………………………………......................?

17. What is your husband’s attitude towards your

work? ..................................................................................................................................

PART D: FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE CHOICE OF CHILDCARE

18. What do you consider before choosing a specific childcare

method………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………?

19. What are the reasons for your choice of a specific childcare

method………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………….?

PART D: RECOMMENDATIONS

20. Can you suggest any work arrangement which can help working mothers to combine

their roles successfully …………………………………………..........................................

21. Do you think the sub-metro is doing enough for working mothers especially those at the

market place? Yes [ ] No [ ]

22. If No, what measure would you like the sub-metro to put in place?

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