Who Cares About Childcare? Estimations of Childcare Use in Latin America and the Caribbean

Abstract

This technical note describes the methodological decisions for the estimation of comparable figures of participation rates in formal childcare in Latin America and the Caribbean, through data from available nationally representative household surveys over the past decade. The estimates show that attendance to childcare centers is low, in particular for the younger children. In addition, the proportion of children attending childcare programs is generally much higher among the well-off households and those with more educated parents. Based on the experience of harmonization carried out we propose a module on childcare to be included in future household surveys.