Factors of Parental Caregiving in Bangladesh: Multilevel Multinomial Logistic Regression Approach

Parental caregiving, a cornerstone of early childhood development (ECD), shapes a childs cognitive, social and emotional development. To understand the factors that shape parental involvement in these vital practices, data from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2019, which includes information on 23,099 children has been utilized. Given the hierarchical structure of the MICS data, a multilevel multinomial logistic regression model incorporating both fixed effects and random intercepts is required to explore the dynamics of parental caregiving behaviors. The preliminary findings reveal that mothers are predominantly involved in caregiving, with maternal education emerging as a highly significant factor influencing parental caregiving activities. Fathers tend to engage in caregiving with male children, reflecting a gender-congruent caregiving pattern. The multi- level model confirmed the substantial influence of family-level factors on parental caregiving behaviors. The study has found that both maternal and paternal engagement in caregiving is influenced by maternal education, wealth index and place of residence. The study identifies that as maternal education level increases, both maternal and paternal caregiving activities also increase. Economic status particularly has strong association with high parental engagement in caregiving with wealthier parents exhibiting more involvement than poor ones. However, pa ternal engagement appears to be more sensitive to economic status and regional differences, while maternal engagement is more directly influenced by maternal age and media exposure. Finally, it is suggested by the study that results of this study can be used to understand and improve parental caregiving practices in low and middle-income (LAMI) countries like Bangladesh.