LEVEL OF ANXIETY AMONG WORKING MOTHERS USING CHILD DAY CARE VERSUS CHILD STAY AT HOME SETTING IN SELECTED AREAS.A STUDY PROTOCOL

Background: Working mothers suffer from extra mental stress due to double burden in workplace and child rearing. Some of the working mothers use child day care center and some working mothers use home setting for child care during their working hours to reduce their mental stress. This study was designed to assess the association between anxiety among working mothers using child day care versus child stay at home setting in selected areas. Material And Methods: This study is based on Quantitative research approach. Descriptive survey design conducted among 100working mothers of whom 50 were child day care users and 50 were using home setting . The pilot study was conducted on 12 samples. Data were collected by face to face interview by using Self - Administered questionnaire of Demographic variables and Beck Anxiety Inventory. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. To compute the data, a master data sheet was prepared by the investigator. The collected data was analyzed in terms of frequency, mean, percentage, standard deviation, 't' test and chi square. All ethical issues were maintained strictly in different stages of the study and informed written consent was taken from each individual. Results: Majority of the subjects 26% were having 19 to 24 and above 36 years of age, 25% having 31 to 35 years of age and 23% having 25 to 30 years of age. Average monthly family income of the subjects 77% were having above 30001 incomes, 14% having 20001 – 30000 incomes, 7% were having 10001 – 20000 income and 2% were having below 10000 incomes. Majority of the subjects 66% having nuclear family, 28% having joint family and 6% having extended family. Majority of the subjects 89% were married, 5% were divorced, 4% were separated and 2% were widow. Mothers had signicantly higher anxiety who had maid servant .Majority 78% of subjects in had low level of anxiety score, 18% in had moderate level of anxiety score and 4% in had potentially concerning level of anxiety score using child stay at home setting. Mean and SD of anxiety score was 14.96 + 9.308. Majority 88% of subjects in had low level of anxiety score, 12% in had moderate level of anxiety score and 0% in had potentially concerning level of anxiety score using child care setting .Mean and SD of anxiety score was 10.86 + 6.363. Chance of having low anxiety in mothers who were using child day care than mothers who were using home care setting. Conclusion: Working mothers using child stay at home setting had high level of anxiety than working mothers using child day care. Child day care center should be established with every organization to reduce the anxiety of working mothers.