Summary:

Maternal Capabilities Are Associated with Child Caregiving Behaviors Among Women in Rural Zimbabwe

Caregiving is often the frontline of implementation.  The authors defined “maternal capabilities” as factors that influence mothers’ caregiving ability (physical and mental health, social support, time, decision-making autonomy, gender norm attitudes, and mothering self-efficacy), and developed and tested survey tools to assess them.  In this paper, they show that women with stronger capabilities during pregnancy would be more likely to practice improved care behaviors after their child was born.

Authors: Matare, Cynthia R; Mbuya, Mduduzi N N; Dickin, Katherine L; Constas, Mark A; Pelto, Gretel; Chasekwa, Bernard; Humphrey, Jean H; Stoltzfus, Rebecca J; Sanitation Hygiene Infant Nutrition Efficacy (SHINE) Trial Team