Strategic Consulting
Parental Time Poverty and Multidimensional Child Poverty in Ghana
Connecting food environments, fiscal tools, and nutrition policy into one credible investment roadmap.
Strategy Grounded in Evidence. Advisory that connects health, food systems, and household welfare into actionable policy and program design.
Urban food environments were shifting faster than national dietary guidelines could respond. The task was to connect retail scanner trends, street-food vendor ethnography, and fiscal instruments into one credible roadmap.
Time poverty among parents — the lack of sufficient time for caregiving due to work and household demands — is a growing concern in Ghana. Children in households where parents are time-poor often face disadvantages in nutrition, education, and emotional support. This study examines how parental time poverty contributes to multidimensional child poverty, situating time as a critical resource alongside income. The broader challenge is that poverty is multidimensional, encompassing not only financial deprivation but also deficits in care and attention. Dual-working households, single parents, and those with heavy labor demands are particularly vulnerable. This research highlights the hidden dimension of time poverty in shaping child welfare outcomes.
Addressing time poverty is essential for tackling multidimensional child poverty and ensuring long-term human capital development.
Martey, E., et al
2026
Background
Advancing through the data
Time poverty among parents — the lack of sufficient time for caregiving due to work and household demands — is a growing concern in Ghana. Children in households where parents are time-poor often face disadvantages in nutrition, education, and emotional support. This study examines how parental time poverty contributes to multidimensional child poverty, situating time as a critical resource alongside income. The broader challenge is that poverty is multidimensional, encompassing not only financial deprivation but also deficits in care and attention. Dual-working households, single parents, and those with heavy labor demands are particularly vulnerable. This research highlights the hidden dimension of time poverty in shaping child welfare outcomes.
Research Approach
Survey data was collected across diverse households, capturing parental time allocation, work demands, and child welfare indicators. Multidimensional poverty indices were applied to assess the relationship between time poverty and child outcomes. Econometric models controlled for income, household size, and education to isolate the effects of time poverty. Qualitative interviews provided narratives of parental struggles and coping strategies. This dual approach ensured findings were both statistically rigorous and grounded in lived realities.
Key findings from this study include:
- Time poverty significantly increased risks of child malnutrition and poor education outcomes.
- Children in households with dual working parents were more vulnerable.
- Social support systems mitigated some negative effects.
Implications
A strategic lens for organizations and policymakers
Policies should address time poverty alongside income poverty.
Organizations can design interventions that support parental caregiving.
Businesses can promote family-friendly workplace policies.
For organizations, this research informs child welfare program design. For policymakers, it provides evidence for family-supportive policies. For businesses, it highlights the value of flexible work arrangements to reduce child poverty.
Addressing time poverty is essential for tackling multidimensional child poverty and ensuring long-term human capital development.
Martey, E., et al, 2026
