Child-Rearing By Housemaids And Parental Expectations In Dodoma: A Case Of Dodoma Municipality

ABSTRACT

This study sought to find out, the extent to which the use of housemaids in child rearing reflects parental anticipations in Dodoma municipality. It deployed a qualitative research approach and a phenomenological research design, while the ethological theory guided the study. Semi-structured interview, focus group discussion (FGD) and documentary review were used as data collection methods. A sample of 45 informants were involved (30 parents and 15 housemaids). Having been selected purposively, parents with housemaids at their homes were the key informants followed by housemaids. Specifically, the study had four key objectives, which are; (i) examining the factors contributing to the need for alternative caregivers in a family setting;(ii) investigating the qualities of alternative caregivers from parents‘ perspectives;(iii) exploring the benefits resulting from the use of housemaids as caregivers in a family setting;(iv) and lastly, establishing challenges emanating from use of housemaids as caregivers in a family setting.The main findings of the study is that , both mothers and fathers were compelled to have housemaids at their homes by life circumstances, including among others, work demands, which made them spend considerable time away from home to earn a living, a situation which deprived them time to sufficiently handle child rearing matters. Having housemaids as caregivers has not been exactly matching to parents expectations, apart from having their wishes unmet, in some instances housemaids presence appeared to be a problem prolonging than solving strategy. Parentalhousemaid relationship was figured out to be one the key determinant factors for housemaids to execute their responsibilities ably and ungrudgingly. It was recommended that; there is now a dire need to integrate, caregiving in a list of formal occupations. This would be an important step in the revolutionizing caregiving into a respectable line of work that only those who have attended specified trainings can work as child caregivers. The study recommends that, still there is a grave need to conduct more studies so as to expand the knowledge on how can non maternal child rearing lead to a broken childhood and even cause long term personality disorders.