This summer, thanks to the generous support of the Women and Public Policy Program (WAPP) at the Harvard Kennedy School, I will be researching maternal empowerment and caregiving in Naushahro Feroze, Sindh, Pakistan.
Why is it important?
At the moment, there is insufficient evidence from low and middle-income countries (LMICs) regarding which factors might inform responsive mother-child interactions, which constitute the basis for secure attachment processes necessary for ensuring healthy child development. Importantly, significant associations between women’s empowerment and child development have been found in LMICs. However, there is little evidence on whether, and how, maternal empowerment might influence the quality of caregiving through responsiveness. This analysis will address a large evidence gap on the interplay of women’s empowerment and adequate caregiving within a cultural context where gender inequity is pronounced, helping to inform the design and implementation of programs aiming at fostering early childhood development, maternal health, and gender equality in LMICs.
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