Mothers Employment Demands and Child Development: An Empirical Analysis of Working Mothers in Calabar Municipality
Simon Odey Ering, Felix Udo Akpan, Nkechi Emma-Echiegu

Abstract
The study essentially examines mother’s employment demands and its impact on child development in contemporary society. We took a sample of 120 respondents from Ikot Esu Community in Calabar municipality and two main hypotheses to guide the study. Data derived from the study were subjected to chi-squared statistical analyses. The findings show that there is a seeming disconnect between mothers employment demands and a child behavioural pattern and the development of child verbal and social skills as a result of the absent of parental care. Based on the findings, we recommended that there is need for government to revisit the policy or law on maternity leave, with a view to increasing the number of months granted mothers on maternity leave from the present four (4) months to nine (9) month to enable working mothers spent more quality time with their children. Also, gender sensitivity must be cultivated at both the individual and social level so that as working parent, each partner (male and female) has a responsibility in the process of child rearing.

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