Childcare arrangements of dual-physician families with young children: A descriptive study.
- Author:
Maria Cristina S. Morabe
;
Judith Adrienne F. Valdes
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
dual-career families;
dual-physician families;
childcare arrangements
- From:
Journal of the Philippine Medical Association
2018;97(1):60-64
- CountryPhilippines
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Families where both parents are physicians may
face greater challenges with regard to childcare
due to long and demanding work schedules. This
study presents a profile of dual- physician families
with young children, describes their childcare arrangements, and examines the effect on their
medical practice.
SUBJECTS:Dual-physician families with at least one
child aged 7 years and below.
METHOD:Semi-structured interview was used to
determine the participants’ age, type of practice,
number and age of children, living and childcare
arrangements.
RESULTS:Forty physicians, 27 to 39 years (Mean =
34.03 years) were included. Twenty were medical
specialists, 18 were in training, and two were
general practitioners. Sixteen families had two
children each, age ranging from three weeks to
seven years (Mean=2.84). Four families had children with special needs, two with autism and two
with speech delay.
The number of working hours per week ranged
from 11 to 119 hours, with a mean of 56.48 hours.
Training physicians had a mean of 76.83 hours
while the specialists had a mean of 39.82 hours.
Extended family members, especially grandparents,
were a major source of childcare support aside
from live-in paid caregivers. Thirteen families lived
with or near their extended families. In two families,
the children lived with the grandparents, away from
their parents.
Five physicians, all female, reported decreasing the
number of working hours to care for their children
while six others, four of them female, did not
pursue or delayed pursuit of further training to care
for their children.
CONCLUSION:The study suggests that childcare
concerns may affect physicians’ practice patterns
and may have an impact on healthcare. The
provision of quality, on-site childcare services to
provide support to dual-physician and other dualincome families is recommended.
- Full text:Childcare arrangements of dual-physician.pdf
