Proceedings of the 2nd World Conference on Gender Equality
Year: 2024
DOI:
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Evaluating Innovative Scalable Childcare Model to Empower Women Through Provision of Quality Childcare Services and Strengthening their Capacities to Engage in Paid Labor Opportunities: Lessons From an in Informal Settlements in Kenya
Linda Oloo, Patricia Kitsao-Wekulo, Nelson Lang’at, Margaret Nampijja, Silas Onyango, Kenneth Okelo, Martin Kiyeng, Elizabeth Kimani-Murage
ABSTRACT:
Our study aimed to identify a scalable childcare model for enhancing the economic outcomes of women living in low-income communities in Kenya, to balance childcare and economic productivity. We used a quasi-experimental design with intervention and comparison arms.The intervention arm comprises women using childcare services from the Kidogo spokes while those using childcare services from other centers form the comparison arm. We used a mixed-methods approach that combines quantitative, and qualitative data collection methods, and engaged sub-county and county health departments to guide the selection of specific sites for the study. The findings indicate potential benefits of the intervention on both mothers and daycare outcomes with regards to total income earned and the time allocated to household for household tasks. Daycare providers indicated that training and mentorship sessions suggesting that these were feasible and acceptable within this context. They also put into practice what they have been trained as noted through improvement in the quality of childcare facilities. The model improved childcare service provision and enabled mothers to concentrate more while at work. There is need for more sensitization on the importance of government involvement in quality childcare service provision and more sensitization of male caregivers to be more involved in childcare.
keywords: Women’s economic empowerment, childcare, unpaid care work