Family-friendly labor policies and child supervision: Evidence from the Gambia, Mauritania, and São Tomé and Príncipe

In many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), children under five years old are frequently left home alone without adult supervision, exposing them to various risks. Family-friendly labor policies have the potential to improve parental care, but evidence of their effectiveness in LMICs remains scarce. This study examines the association between labor market policies and the prevalence of unsupervised children in The Gambia, Mauritania, and São Tomé and Príncipe. The study included a total of 42,399 children under five years of age, from two waves of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) conducted in The Gambia, Mauritania, and São Tomé and Príncipe. The surveys employed similar sampling strategies and survey weights, both of which was approved by UNICEF to ensure methodological rigor and representativeness. A mixed-method approach was used to provide a comprehensive analysis of policy development and its impact on child adequate supervision. Using this method, we (a) tracked and verified policy development through key informant interviews, and (b) analyzed two waves of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS). Our findings indicate that while labor market policies alone do not significantly reduce unsupervised time (adjusted risk ratio = 0.59-1.74, 95% confidence interval), their integration into broader child welfare strategies could enhance child supervision. This study highlights the need for robust policies to address child protection challenges in LMICs. While not sufficient alone, their effective implementation can improve child supervision as part of child welfare strategies. • Many young children in The Gambia, Mauritania, and São Tomé and Principe are left unsupervised. • This study examines labor policies and child supervision using mixed methods. • Data from UNICEF MICS and policy interviews inform the analysis. • Family-support labor policies alone had limited effects on supervision. • Broader child welfare strategies are key to improving child protection.