Determinants of Using Short-time Child-care Services in Dual-income Families with Infants

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the reason why dual-income families with infants make more use of short-time child-care services (than use of full-day services) in spite that the child-care subsidy is provided based on 12-hour full-day service and what are the determining factors of short-time service using. Findings indicate that in case that dual-income family with infants uses both short-time child-care services and in-home care, using center-based child-care service is likely to be made 4 hours a day, 5 days a week steadily. And, ‘relieving child-rearing burden of primary caregiver’ and ‘pursuing various experience and education for children’ are turned out to be the reasons for using short-time center-based child-care service. Findings also prove that determinants of dual-income families’ using short-time child-care services are the type of primary caregiver, mothers’ working hour, the age they consider appropriate for infants to use the service, and the age of infants. In other words, dual-income families who especially care their infants primarily in home show tendency to use short-time center-based child-care services in significant relation with the determinants proven above. Based on the results of this study, further studies are needed in relation to center-based child care services in order to improve the quality of in-home care service and develop various kinds of child care service that suits parent’s need.