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The Constraints To Good Child Care Practices In Accra: Implications For Programs

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  • Armar-Klemesu, Margaret
  • Ruel, Marie T.
  • Maxwell, Daniel G.
  • Levin, Carol E.
  • Morris, Saul Sutkover

Abstract

Life in urban areas presents special challenges for maternal child care practices. Data from a representative survey of households with children less than 3 years of age in Accra were used to test a number of hypothesized constraints to child care, including various maternal (education, employment, marital status, age, health, ethnic group, migration status) and household-level factors (income, calorie availability, quality of housing and asset ownership, availability of services, household size, and crowding). An age-specific child care index was created using recall data on maternal child feeding practices and use of preventive health services. A hygiene index was created from spot check observations of proxies of hygiene behaviors. Multivariate analyses showed that maternal schooling was the most consistent constraint to both the care and the hygiene index. None of the household-level characteristics were associated with the care index, but better housing quality and access to garbage collection services were associated with better hygiene. Female head of household and larger family size were associated with poorer hygiene. The programmatic implications of these findings for nutrition education and behavior change interventions in Accra are discussed. The focus is on using the information to target the right practices to be modified as well as the main constraints to their adoption.

Suggested Citation

  • Armar-Klemesu, Margaret & Ruel, Marie T. & Maxwell, Daniel G. & Levin, Carol E. & Morris, Saul Sutkover, 2000. "The Constraints To Good Child Care Practices In Accra: Implications For Programs," FCND Discussion Papers 16466, CGIAR, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:fcnddp:16466
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.16466
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Armar-Klemesu, Margaret & Levin, Carol E. & Maxwell, Daniel G. & Morris, Saul Sutkover & Ruel, Marie T., 1999. "Good care practices can mitigate the negative effects of poverty and low maternal schooling on children's nutritional status," FCND discussion papers 62, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    2. Ahiadeke, Clement. & Armar-Klemesu, Margaret & Levin, Carol E. & Maxwell, Daniel G. & Morris, Saul Sutkover & Ruel, Marie T., 1999. "Working women in an urban setting," FCND discussion papers 66, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    3. Ruel, Marie T. & Levin, Carol E. & Armar-Klemesu, Margaret & Maxwell, Daniel & Morris, Saul S., 1999. "Good Care Practices Can Mitigate the Negative Effects of Poverty and Low Maternal Schooling on Children's Nutritional Status: Evidence from Accra," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 27(11), pages 1993-2009, November.
    4. Cleland, John G. & van Ginneken, Jerome K., 1988. "Maternal education and child survival in developing countries: The search for pathways of influence," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 27(12), pages 1357-1368, January.
    5. Levin, Carol E. & Ruel, Marie T. & Morris, Saul S. & Maxwell, Daniel G. & Armar-Klemesu, Margaret & Ahiadeke, Clement, 1999. "Working Women in an Urban Setting: Traders, Vendors and Food Security in Accra," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 27(11), pages 1977-1991, November.
    6. Haddad, Lawrence & Ruel, Marie T. & Garrett, James L., 1999. "Are Urban Poverty and Undernutrition Growing? Some Newly Assembled Evidence," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 27(11), pages 1891-1904, November.
    7. Garrett, James L. & Haddad, Lawrence James & Ruel, Marie T., 1999. "Are urban poverty and undernutrition growing?," FCND discussion papers 63, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    8. Ahiadeke, Clement & Armar-Klemesu, Margaret & Levin, Carol E. & Maxwell, Daniel G. & Morris, Saul Sutkover & Ruel, Marie T., 2000. "Urban livelihoods and food and nutrition security in Greater Accra, Ghana," Research reports 112, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
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