Attitudes and childcare functions of caregivers in private childcare centers in Lamphun Province.

Abstract

Background : In modern society, a child caregiver has become the main person for giving care to children that performs childcare function like family function. It must be realized in the characteristics of caregivers, especially, the attitudes and childcare functions, which can be influential to the child. So there has been limited that researchers are interested to study on attitude and childcare functions.

Objective : To examine the attitude, childcare functions and associated factors among attitudes and performance in the care of children who work in childcare centers of Lamphun Province.

Design : A cross – sectional descriptive study.

Setting : Private childcare centers in Lamphun Province.

Materials and Methods : Data were collected from 121 caregivers who worked in childcare centers in Lamphun Province by using 6 questionnaires comprising of: 1) demographic data; 2) attitude toward children; 3) attitude toward childcare work; 4) interview performance of caregivers of children about parenting infants and toddles; 5) evaluation of the performance of child rearing infants; 6) evaluation of the performance of child rearing toddle.

Results : Out of 121caregivers in childcare centers of the Lamphun Province, 71.9% had a positive attitude toward children and 69% had a positive attitude toward childcare functions. Regarding the performance in the care of children, 32.2% were of good level. The age of the caregivers was significantly associated with the attitude towards the child (p <0.05). Caregivers’ marital status, caregivers’ income, and duration of the working hours (per day) were significantly associated with the attitude toward childcare functions (p <0.05). Level of education, age range of children, and welfare were significantly associated with performance in the care of the child (p <0.05).

Conclusion : The results of this study suggest that caregivers had a positive attitude both toward children and toward childcare functions. The performance in the care of children was in good level while partial function had deficiency. These findings may help related organizations to improve the performance in the care of the child.