The Effect of Maternal Labour Force Participation on Child Well-Being in Cameroon

Abstract

This paper assessed the effect of maternal labour force participation on child well-being in Cameroon using data extracted from the 2018 Cameroon Demographic and Health Survey. The Instrumental Two- Stage- Least Squares (IV2SLS) technique, controlling for endogeneity was employed to analyse the effect of maternal labour force participation on child well-being in Cameroon. The results of the Instrumental Two- Stage- Least Squares (IV2SLS) revealed that maternal labour force participation had a positive and statistically significant effect on child well-being in Cameroon. Decomposing maternal labour force participation effect on child well-being, we realised that it was more of an issue of secondary education due to inadequate education and training. Based on the results, the paper recommends that development policies should continue to adhere to international conventions which promote the education of women and their emancipation so as to enhance their participation in the labour force in a bid to enhance child well-being.