Deficits in quality of care and education Deficits in quality of care and education

3.2.3 Deficits in quality of care and education

Underweight in children is a sure indicator of poor nutrition and the incidence of hunger within families. This often stems Underweight in children is a sure indicator of poor nutrition and the incidence of hunger within families. This often stems from food shortages, and the inability of parents to provide adequate and nourishing food for their children. One in five from food shortages, and the inability of parents to provide adequate and nourishing food for their children. One in five children in developing countries are underweight. Most of these children are in South-east Asia (56 million). Malnutrition children in developing countries are underweight. Most of these children are in South-east Asia (56 million). Malnutrition in the early years of life can severely and irreparably affect children’s cognitive development and learning abilities.

in the early years of life can severely and irreparably affect children’s cognitive development and learning abilities.

19 International Labour Organization, ‘Equal sharing of responsibilities between women and men, including care-giving in the context of HIV-AIDS’, Background Paper prepared by Laura Addati and Naomi Cassirer, United Nations Expert Group Meeting, Geneva, 6–9 October 2008, p. 12–14.

20 Desafios, UNICEF and ECLAC, op. cit.

21 See, for example: Cruz, A., 2012, op. cit.

40

40 SUPPORTING WORKERS WITH FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIESSUPPORTING WORKERS WITH FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIES

Other dimensions of the type and the quality of care which infants and young children receive also affect their development, Other dimensions of the type and the quality of care which infants and young children receive also affect their development, and the extent to which they realize their full potential. The MICS3 of 28 countries from the developing world and Eastern and the extent to which they realize their full potential. The MICS3 of 28 countries from the developing world and Eastern Europe suggests that the quality of home-based care is largely determined by socio-economic status. In a large number of Europe suggests that the quality of home-based care is largely determined by socio-economic status. In a large number of countries, children under age 5 were being left at home alone, or in the care of children under age 10

countries, children under age 5 were being left at home alone, or in the care of children under age 10²²²² (See Figure 2). Young (See Figure 2). Young children in poorer households were at much greater risk in this regard, than those in better-off households. In countries children in poorer households were at much greater risk in this regard, than those in better-off households. In countries such as Vietnam, Lao People’s Republic, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon and Yemen, as many as 30 to 40 percent of under such as Vietnam, Lao People’s Republic, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon and Yemen, as many as 30 to 40 percent of under five-year olds in poorer households were found to have been left at home alone, or in the care of under ten year olds, in the five-year olds in poorer households were found to have been left at home alone, or in the care of under ten year olds, in the week preceding the survey.

week preceding the survey.

Oftentimes, if the children are not left alone at home with inadequate care, the alternative solution adopted is hardly better, Oftentimes, if the children are not left alone at home with inadequate care, the alternative solution adopted is hardly better, that is, mothers bring their children to work. This was found to be the case for a large number of working women in that is, mothers bring their children to work. This was found to be the case for a large number of working women in the informal economy in developing countries

the informal economy in developing countries²³²³. One study found that one in four low-income parents in Botswana and . One study found that one in four low-income parents in Botswana and

22 United Nations Children’s Fund, Inequities in Early Childhood Development: What the Data say: Evidence from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys, UNICEF, New York, February 2012.

23 ILO Background Paper, 2008, op. cit.

41 41

CONNECTING CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND THE DECENT WORK AGENDA CONNECTING CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND THE DECENT WORK AGENDA

Vietnam took their children to the workplace

Vietnam took their children to the workplace²⁴²⁴. For many working parents, such practices are coping strategies in face of . For many working parents, such practices are coping strategies in face of issues of access and affordability of professional childcare. However, outcomes are not positive for the child who needs a safe, issues of access and affordability of professional childcare. However, outcomes are not positive for the child who needs a safe, stimulating, caring and learning environment in order to develop social, emotional and cognitive skills.

stimulating, caring and learning environment in order to develop social, emotional and cognitive skills.

These caring arrangements may pose other risks such as lack of proper feeding, lack of hygienic practices and attendant These caring arrangements may pose other risks such as lack of proper feeding, lack of hygienic practices and attendant health risks, accidents, and inadequate care in case of illness. Where parents are absent from the home and are at work for health risks, accidents, and inadequate care in case of illness. Where parents are absent from the home and are at work for long periods, they may lack the focus and the energy to spend quality time with their children when at home, leading to long periods, they may lack the focus and the energy to spend quality time with their children when at home, leading to deficits in emotional and psychosocial development due to a lack of quality parent/child interactions. Nor are outcomes deficits in emotional and psychosocial development due to a lack of quality parent/child interactions. Nor are outcomes positive for the young caregivers, usually girls, who typically dropout of school in order to perform these child-minding positive for the young caregivers, usually girls, who typically dropout of school in order to perform these child-minding roles, to the detriment of their own chances at educational advancement and becoming productive working adults

roles, to the detriment of their own chances at educational advancement and becoming productive working adults²⁵²⁵.

Figure 2

Figure 2 Percentage of children under 5 left alone or in the care of another child Percentage of children under 5 left alone or in the care of another child under 10 years old in the past week, by household wealth quintile under 10 years old in the past week, by household wealth quintile

24 Ibid.; Heymann, J., op. cit.

25 United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative, ‘A Fair Chance: Attaining gender equality in basic education by 2005’, Briefing Paper, UNGEI, New York, 2003, p. 23–25.

The poorest children are at greatest risk of being left alone, or in inadequate care.

42

42 SUPPORTING WORKERS WITH FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIESSUPPORTING WORKERS WITH FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIES