While operating in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic, child care professionals (CCPs) implemented and enforced COVID-induced public health practices and protocols (PHPPs), some of which have resulted in new challenges and risks to CCP’s health and safety. However, the experiences of CCPs have been underreported in Canada despite the sector's large footprint in the Canadian economy and the reality that many other essential service sectors rely on child care to function. This research seeks to understand which COVID-induced public health practices and protocols were present in Canadian child care programs, how these PHPPs were perceived by CCPs, and the factors that contributed to impacts that were experienced by CCPs. The data came from a national, web-based survey (English/French), that yielded 1610 responses primarily from CCPs working at licenced child care programs within the Canadian Child Care Federation’s email database and social media pages between June – August 2021. During the COVID-19 pandemic, CPPs implemented and enforced PHPPs and some PHPPs may have resulted in new challenges and risks to CCP’s health and safety. Fomite-based PHPPs, including surface cleaning (99.7%), handwashing with soap (97.4%), and using sanitizer (96.0%), were more commonly reported than airborne-based PHPPs such as masking (93.0%), opening windows (55.9%), using an HVAC system (19.8%). A quarter of CCPs reported using devices that Health Canada either did not recommend or were not widely approved for use against COVID-19. CCPs reported challenges with PHPP implementation, notably not feeling well equipped or trained to use disinfecting and sanitizing products (74.8%), experiencing physical difficulties (74.3%), not having sufficient funds (65.2%), the need for more staff to make working during the pandemic easier (62.9%) and need better guidance from public health officials (61.5%). CCPs were more concerned about a child in their care catching COVID-19 (87.2%) than they were for personally catching the virus (75.6%). Roughly 90% of CCPs experienced stress and other mental health challenges (SMC) and 26.6% reported being less interested in continuing to work in the sector. Four logistic regression models were constructed to determine the factors associated with CCPs’ concerns with personally contracting COVID-19, a child in their care personally contracting COVID-19, as well as factors associated with increased SMC and finally factors associated with less interest in continuing to work in the sector. Independent variables related to demographic characteristics of CCPs and child care programs, PHPPs challenges, and other outcomes from survey questions were identified through bivariate analysis and subsequently entered into a series of multivariate logistical regression models using a backward stepwise algorithm. Several variables were significant in each model and only the most significant are reported here. CCPs were roughly 10 times more likely to report concern over contracting COVID-19 if they perceived the virus as a serious health threat (OR 9.9, 95% CI 6.1-16.0) and were approximately twice as likely to report concern if they reported insufficient funds for PHPP implementation (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.4-2.4) (R2 =0.212). Similarly, the most significant factor associated with CCPs’ concern for children contracting COVID-19 was if the CCP perceived the virus as a serious health threat (OR 6.3, 95% CI 3.7-10.8) (R2 =0.141). The two independent variables significantly affecting SMC (R2 = .163) were having a pre-existing health condition (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.6-3.6) and the need for additional staff (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.5-3.3). Finally, CCPs were over seven times more likely to report being less interested in working in the child care sector if they had experienced SMC (OR 7.4, 95% CI 3.2 12.0) and were almost twice as likely to report being less interested if they reported being not well training and equipped to use disinfecting and sanitizing products as to not pose a risk to human health (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.3-2.2) (R2 = .148). The findings underscore the multifaceted challenges CCPs faced and the paramount importance of workplace preparedness, contributing to a knowledge gap in current literature, particularly within a Canadian context. This study suggests that by addressing the dissemination of information (including guidance and training), CCPs will experience less SMC and be more likely to be interested in continuing to work in the sector. Moreover, investing in support (e.g., mental health support, financial compensation, more staff) for CCPs who have experienced SMC will improve not only the health of the professional but also the sustainability of the sector.

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This research investigates three topics in child care quality, mother's labor supply, and early childhood development. In the first study, we evaluate how child care quality influences the potential impacts of mothers' labor supply on child development. Although, previous studies have acknowledged the importance of the quality of child care, none have integrated quality in analyzing the effects of maternal employment. We find that the negative effect often found in past studies is largely due to the use of low quality child care. The question we ask in the next study is, "What are the effects of child care quality on child development?" In this study we tried to separate out the contribution of initial child ability in child test scores of development from the effects of other inputs, particularly child care quality. We show that even after resolving endogeneity issues, we still find that child care quality has a significant positive effect on early cognitive development. The third study investigates the determinants of households' demand for child care, particularly, child care quality. We determine if households' choices regarding child care quality, as well as quantity, respond to economic factors. A family's condition is defined by the combination of family choices on mother's work status, mode and payment type of child care, and child's age. We group families by condition and estimate demand for child care quality and hours by group. The results indicate that higher income will lead to higher quality for non-working mothers but lower quality for some working mothers. Demand for quality by non-working mothers are more price sensitive than working mothers. Wage effects on quality are positive only for users of home-based care. Demand for quality is more sensitive to economic factors when the child is around 3 years old than at 6 months. These results suggest that the form, target and timing of financial assistance need to be considered for it to be effective in promoting the use of quality care. / Ph. D.

This study investigated the concerns and opinions of parents regarding supplemental care for children in the kindergarten through fifth grade age group; recommendations of parents for the improvement of present and future child care in the communities; and the differences between the responses of the rural non-farm and urban parents. Data obtained from the 213 questionnaires voluntarily completed by the parents of the rural non-farm and urban communities revealed that parents preferred home care by a relative or close neighbor; that quality of child care and quality of supervision were the two major factors to be considered when selecting child care services; and that 'after school' care was used more often than 'before school' care. Parent responses in both rural non-farm and urban areas were generally in agreement. Lack of transportation and 'after school' care programs in their communities were cited by parents as concerns. / Master of Science

The purpose of this study was twofold. First, the relationship between organizational climate and job satisfaction was examined to determine if they are redundant constructs. Second, the validity of aggregate scores on the organizational climate scale was tested. Paula Jorde-Bloom’s Early Childhood Work Environment Survey (ECWES) was sent to child care workers in Virginia to assess their perceptions of the organizational climate of their centers. An aggregate center score was derived by taking a mean of all the respondents from a particular center. The Early Childhood Job Satisfaction Survey (ECJSS) was used to assess workers’ feelings of satisfaction with their jobs. Results of correlations and factor analysis indicated that the two scales do represent distinct constructs. Results of T-tests, analysis of variance, and correlations provided partial support for acceptance of the validity of aggregate scores on the ECWES. Directions for future research included replicating the study with a larger sample size and more respondents per center, attempting to validate aggregate scores on the ECWES with existing objective rating scales, examining the relationships between center attributes and climate dimensions, and between these attributes and turnover. Implications for practice include ways child care center directors can enhance the climate of their centers. For example, directors should examine their supervisory behavior to see if they are being supportive of their staff and fostering group decision-making. / Master of Science

The problem of this study was to determine if employee child care difficulties were related to absenteeism. A case study was conducted among sixty-three employees at a north Dallas bank using a survey questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze child care difficulties. A majority of employees experienced difficulty when co-workers had child care problems. A majority of the parent employees had difficulty finding sick or emergency/temporary child care, affording child care, and working overtime due to child care. The majority of parents had child care related absences and work interruptions and thirty-nine percent of them considered quitting their jobs due to child care problems. This study implied the need for employer-supported child care options for the bank employees.

O objetivo geral do estudo foi analisar o processo de trabalho da enfermeira materno infantil (EMI), orientado ao cuidado da criança sadia no Programa de Vigilância da Nutrição, Crescimento e Desenvolvimento da Criança menor de 5 anos de idade, em uma instituição da Seguridade Social no México. Fundamentou-se nas concepções do processo de trabalho em saúde de Mendes-Golçalves (1994), no processo de trabalho da enfermagem como proposto por Almeida (1991) e Almeida e Rocha (1997), e nas concepções teóricas da micropolítica do trabalho vivo em saúde, que permitiram focalizar o espaço intercessor trabalhador/usuário (MERHY, 1997, 2004). Utilizou-se a abordagem qualitativa com observação sistemática direta e entrevista semi-estruturada. Os sujeitos do estudo foram as enfermeiras (EMI), as assistentes médicas da EMI (AEMI) e as mães que compareceram à consulta de enfermagem. Observaram-se 87 consultas proporcionadas pelas EMI, e observação à área da recepção atendida pela AEMI, assim como entrevista a este pessoal (6 entrevistas) e as mães (25 entrevistas). A saturação dos dados e a compreensão do significado foram os critérios para estabelecer o número necessário de observações e entrevistas. As consultas proporcionadas pela EMI identificaram-se centradas na realização de procedimentos como: verificação do peso, estatura e revisão da carteira de vacinas conforme os protocolos de atenção (tecnologias duras), com diálogos mais bem identificados como monólogos da EMI à mãe. Verificou-se que o encontro entre a mãe/filho portadores de uma dada necessidade de saúde com a EMI portadora de um arsenal de saberes específicos e práticas, envolve um encontro de situações não equivalentes, a mãe tem a necessidade de que a EMI, no mínimo a cumprimente e a acolha. Assim o trabalho da EMI é capturado pelo trabalho morto, pela configuração institucional que se expressa no tempo de atendimento, na consulta marcada com antecedência, no seguimento dos protocolos e rotinas impostos pelo serviço que não permitem o estabelecimento de um núcleo cuidador. Mas como o trabalho da EMI é trabalho em saúde que se efetiva em um processo quase-estruturado, a EMI foi capaz de produzir trabalho vivo como fonte de tecnologias leves (tecnologias de relações, de acolhimento), baseando-se principalmente em seu autogoverno que lhe permitiu o estabelecimento de um núcleo de cuidado mãe/filho-centrado. A conformação da equipe de saúde foi identificada como equipe agrupamento caracterizada pela fragmentação e especificidade do trabalho com comunicação de aspectos só pessoais. As mães perceberam o cuidado à criança sadia como a realização de procedimentos, verificação do peso e estatura, ter um registro dos avanços no desenvolvimento de seu filho e o fornecimento da cota de leite, que surgiu como um orientador/desorientador da atenção que coloca os atores sociais em conflito com necessidades distintas. Recomenda-se a flexibilização das normas e rotinas que permitam a construção de um núcleo cuidador mãe/filho-centrado, baseado nas tecnologias leves como o acolhimento e a confiança, para que a mãe possa colocar suas dúvidas relacionadas ao cuidado de seu filho e desenvolva um grau de autonomia e assim reconhecer à enfermeira como cuidadora, educadora, conselheira e promotora da saúde / The general aim of this study was to analyze the work process of maternal child nurses, directed to the care of healthy children in the Program of Nutrition Surveillance, Growth and Development for children under 5 years of age at a social security institution in Mexico. This research was based on the concepts of health work process by Mendes-Gonçalves (1994), the nursing work process proposed by Almeida (1991) and Almeida and Rocha (1997) and on the theoretical conceptions of micropolitics of health work involving human staff, enabling the author to focus the worker/user space (1991) (MERHY, 1997, 2004). A qualitative approach was used through systematic direct observation and semi-structured interviews. The subjects were maternal child nurses, medical assistants who welcomed the patients when they arrived and mothers who went to the nursing consultation. 87 nursing consultations were observed as well as the reception of patients. In addition, author interviewed the staff (6 interviews) and mothers (25 interviews). Data saturation and meaning comprehension were the criteria to establish the necessary number of observations and interviews. The consultations were identified as centered in procedures such as: weight and height measurement, review of the vaccination record according to the care protocols (hard technologies) with dialogues identified as monologues of nurses to the mothers. Findings showed that the meeting between mother and child with specific health needs and nurses with large scientific and practical knowledge involves an approximation of non-equivalent situations. The mothers expect, at least, that nurses will be able to welcome them. Thus, the maternal child nurse work is captured by a work with machines, the institutional configuration that is expressed during the consultation period, with the appointment determined previously, in following protocols and routines imposed by the service and that do not allow the establishment of a caring core. However, with nurses work, the health work happens in a nearly-structured process and nurses were able to produce a live work as a source of soft technologies (relationship and welcome technologies), based mainly in their self-governance and allowing the establishment of a nucleus of care centered in the mother/child. The conformation of the health team was identified as a grouping team characterized by the fragmentation and specificity of the work with only the communication of personal aspects. Mothers perceived that the care of a healthy child is based on procedures to verify height and weight, registration of the development of their children and the supply of a milk portion, that appeared as a factor that guided/disturbed the care as resulted in conflict among the social actors with different needs. The author recommends the flexibilization of the norms and routines, enabling the construction of a nucleus centered in the mother/child, based on soft technologies of welcome and trust, allowing mothers to ask their questions related to the care of their children as well as to develop a level of autonomy, recognizing the nurse as a care provider, educator, advisor and health promoter.