Child Care by Poor Single Mothers: Study of Mother-Headed Families in India

Abstract

Child rearing, single handedly by mothers alone when the spouse is absent due to death, desertion/divorce has been a real challenge. It is further arduous for the mothers belonging to the poverty stricken families. These mothers are handicapped to provide the basic needs. Apart from that, they face many problems in bringing up their children such as childcare arrangements during their absence from home, the time spent with their children, problems with their schooling and behavioral problems exhibited by their children. The present article describes the problems being faced by these poor single mothers.