How Mothers in Kenya Balance Paid Work and Child Care: the Case for Affordable Centre-Based Child Care

From GrOW/McGill. This study takes an in-depth look at the strategies mothers in poor, urban African settings use to reconcile their responsibilities of child care and paid work. The results point to several main conclusions.

• Combining work and child care is difficult, if not impossible, without compromising productivity or the safety of children.

• Relying on family members to assist with child care is not a viable or preferable option for most working mothers.

• Centre-based child care is perceived as offering key advantages to mothers and their children.

• The main barrier to centre-based child care is user costs