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Good caring practice enhances a child’s development and is one of the three underlying causes of malnutrition and the least investigated. This study aims at assessing the differences between the caring practices of housewives and working mothers with pre-schoolers (between the ages of 3-5 years). This comparative study on caring practices was carried out among 215 mothers with pre-schoolers between the ages of 3-5 years in predominantly urban areas of Ilorin, Kwara State. Caring practices were assessed with the aid of semi-structured questionnaires. Data were analyzed using SPSS 23.0 and STATA statistical software to generate frequencies, percentages, test relationships between variables through cross-tabulations using chi-square. The test of significance was set at P < 0.05. The time spent away from home had a significant effect on the duration of exclusive breastfeeding, time at which complementary feeds were introduced, frequency, and types of illness. There was no significant effect on antenatal clinic attendance, place of delivery, assistance at delivery, and immunization. Maternal income had a significant effect on all the child care practices except the place of delivery and assistance at delivery. Mother’s educational status also had a significant effect on child care practices. Working mothers had better caring practices because of their access to income aside from that of their spouses and also their level of education. For mothers to provide the necessary and good care for the pre-schoolers, some level of education is required, hence, priority should be given to the education of girl children and enhancing the legal and social status of women.

Care, Caring Practices, Housewives, Working Mothers, Pre-schoolers

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