The Defamiliarization of Childcare in Uruguay: What Factors Contribute to the Use of Care Centers?

Abstract

The purpose of the following article is to analyze childcare strategies in Uruguay with data from the recent Care Strategies Survey. The main question that guides this article is what are the elements that favor the institutionalization of part of the burden of childcare (attendance and hours at childcare facilities for children under and over the age of 3). Gender mandates, which manifest through the maternalism index, contribute to the use of institutions, since traditional ideas about the caregiving role of mothers have effects on less institutionalization. At the same time, mothers’ access to work and higher levels of household income increases the probability of using institutions. Lastly, the defamiliarization of childcare depends on cultural mandates and, to the same extent, on the material conditions to access services.