A comparative analysis of marital obligation of child care of woman working in the private and public sector in Nigeria

Chinedu Nwokorie , Anyaoha Okechukwu

Abstract
This is a comparative study of work-family conflict in the private and public sector of Nigeria. It comparatively analyzed the impact of long hours working mothers spend at work on child care obligation. The study adopted a survey and descriptive research design. The target population consisted of 524 married women selected from United Bank for Africa (UBA), Nigerian Brewery, Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Ministry of Labour and productivity representing the private and public sectors. A hypothesis was formulated to guide the study. Open-ended and close- ended questionnaire and interview were used for data collection. The Cronbach Alpha test was used to test for the internal consistency, and the reliability index of the instrument. The data gather was analyzed using chi-square and independent t test. The findings revealed that the independent sample t-test analysis of the differences between the hours women spend at work and the marital obligation of childcare based of both sectors showed that women working in the private sector (M = 2.54, SD = 0.64) spend significantly more time at work than those in the public sector [M = 1.87, SD = 0.48; t(522) = 13.32, p < 0.05]. Also, the result shows that women working in the private sector (M = 23.06, SD = 10.96) scored significantly higher in variation in terms of time spent at work as well as scoring lower in child care obligation than their counterparts working in the public sector [M = 27.98, SD = 8.08; t(522) = -5.74, p < 0.05. The study recommended that government should prosecute private sector organizations that fail to inculcate and implement family flexibilities that will enable married women to cushion the effect of work-home conflict. Family flexibility that allows married women spend less time at work place or to work from home should be encouraged in the private sector, and maternity leave allowance for nursing mothers should be extended to 5-6 months from the usual three months.

Keywords
Child care; Family flexibility; Public sector; Private sector; Work-family conflict.

Resumo
Análise comparativa da obrigação conjugal de cuidar de crianças de mulheres que trabalham no setor privado e público na Nigéria. Este é um estudo comparativo do conflito entre trabalho e família no setor privado e público da Nigéria. Foi analisado o impacto comparativo das longas jornadas de trabalho das mães sobre a obrigação de cuidados infantis. O estudo adotou um levantamento e delineamento descritivo. A população-alvo consiste de 524 mulheres casadas selecionadas do United Bank for Africa (UBA), da cervejaria nigeriana, do Ministério do Comércio e Indústria e do Ministério do Trabalho, representando os setores público e privado. Hipóteses foram formulada para orientar o estudo. Questionários aberto e fechado e entrevista foram utilizados para coleta de dados. O teste Alpha de Cronbach foi usado para testar a consistência interna e o índice de confiabilidade do instrumento. A coleta de dados foi analisada pelo teste qui-quadrado e teste t independente. Os resultados revelaram que a análise do teste t para amostras independentes das diferenças entre as horas que as mulheres gastam no trabalho e a obrigação conjugal de cuidar dos filhos de ambos os setores mostrou que as mulheres que trabalham no setor privado (M = 2,54, DP = 0,64) gastam significativamente mais tempo no trabalho do que aqueles no setor público [M = 1,87, DP = 0,48; t(522) = 13,32, p < 0,05]. Além disso, o resultado mostra que as mulheres que trabalham no setor privado (M = 23,06, DP = 10,96) obtiveram uma variação significativamente maior em termos de tempo gasto no trabalho e menor pontuação na obrigação de cuidados infantis do que suas contrapartes no setor público [M = 27,98, DP = 8,08; t(522) = -5,74, p < 0,05]. O estudo recomendou que o governo processe organizações do setor privado que não inculquem e implementem flexibilidades familiares que permitirão às mulheres casadas amortecer o efeito do conflito entre o trabalho e a família. Flexibilidade familiar que permite que mulheres casadas passem menos tempo no trabalho ou trabalhem em casa deve ser incentivada no setor privado, e o subsídio de licença maternidade para mães que amamentam deve ser estendido para 5-6 meses a partir dos três meses habituais.

Palavras-chave
Cuidados infantis; Flexibilidade familiar; Setor público; Setor privado; Conflito trabalho-família.

DOI
10.21438/rbgas.051002

Texto completo
PDF

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