The significance of childrenʹs age in estimating the effect of maternal time use on childrenʹs well-being

The womenʹs initiative launched by the United Nations Decade for Women has sparked unresolved controversy over the consequences of mothersʹ increased participation in economically productive activities on childrenʹs well-being. Clearly, in many developing countries, poor mothers face stringent time constraints requiring trade-offs in time allocated to various activities, including child caregiving. However, the impact of these trade-offs on childrenʹs well-being remains unclear. The effect of maternal time use on childrenʹs nutrition and health status requires more rigorous examination. In particular, the role of childrenʹs age in this relationship is critical. Although childrenʹs requirement for maternal care varies with factors such as their age (a proxy for stage of psychobiological and sociocultural development), season of year and family size and structure, childrenʹs age has not been highlighted in the debate or in the relevant research. This paper documents childrenʹs age as a critical factor in the relationship between maternal patterns of time use and the well-being of children 18–30 months of age in peri-urban Egypt. It describes differences in maternal patterns of daily time use according to childrenʹs age and illustrates the differential associations between maternal daily activity patterns and childrenʹs well-being by childrenʹs age. Quantitative data collected on 161 mother-toddler pairs included information on maternal daily time allocation, childrenʹs dietary energy intake and diarrheal morbidity, maternal hemoglobin, and household and individual sociodemographics. Data were stratified by childrenʹs age at 24 months and were analyzed cross-sectionally using multiple linear and logistic regression. Results indicated that the age of two is critical in Kalama. At this age, toddlers begin to receive less time-intensive care freeing mothers for economic and self production. With respect to childrenʹs well-being prior to age two, frequency of feeding was positively related to their energy intake and more time spent in household sanitation activities reduced childrenʹs risk of diarrhea (during the diarrhea season). After two years of age, the maternal behaviors measured did not affect childrenʹs energy intake; however, childrenʹs diarrheal risk was reduced (during the diarrhea season) when mothers held them more and allocated more time to household sanitation year-round. We recommend that other investigators carefully examine the relationships between childrenʹs well-being according to developmentally-defined child age intervals and maternal patterns of time use. Results will help to resolve concern over the effect of maternal participation in economically productive activities on childrenʹs well-being.