ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to develop functional clothing for caregivers in day care centres in Delta State, Nigeria. Eight research questions posed in the study while 12 null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study and tested at 0.05 level of significance. The area of the study was Delta State, Nigeria. Research and development (R & D) was the adopted design of the study. Population of the study was 2,812 persons comprising 1,202 caregivers in phase I and 1,610 judges in phase III. A multi stage sampling technique was used to select 297 caregivers for phase I of the study. In phase III, 38 judges and 9 user models were selected using purposive sampling techniques. The data was collected using six sets of instruments namely; Focus Group Discussion (FGD), Observation Check List (OCL) of task performed by caregivers in day care, Functional Clothing Needs Assessment Questionnaires for Caregivers (FCNAQC), Standard Body Measurement Chart (SBMC), Functional Clothing Design Assessment Instrument for Caregiver (FCDAIC) and Functional Clothing Design Assessment Instrument for Judges (FCDAIJ). The instruments were validated by three experts and pilot tested on twenty persons in Edo state to determine the internal consistency. The reliability of the OCL and FCNAQC instruments were determined using Richard Kuderson 20 and coefficients were OCL = 0.89, Clothing requirement (needs)
= 0.96 and design features = 0.87. Cronbach alpha was used and coefficients were; Design criteria = 0.98, Design preferences = 0.79, FCDAIC = 0.99, FCDAIJ = 0.91. The data were analysed with percentages, mean and standard deviation for the research questions. The hypotheses were analyzed with t-test and one-way ANOVA at 0.5 level of significance. All data collected were analysed using statistical packages of Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16. Major findings include; 40 tasks performed by caregivers in the day care were identified, six functional clothing requirements (needs) of caregivers were determined and a short gown was considered appropriate, 15 design criteria were required to produce functional clothing for caregivers, 14 task – related designs features were desired, six design preferences and 12 fabrics characteristics were preferred, mean body measurement for small, medium and large sizes were established for caregivers. 15 pieces of patterns were developed for the three sizes. Nine sets of functional clothing were produced for lab test and modified for field testing. The prototype clothing was assessed based on the outlined variables by users and judges. ‘The mean responses of users on movements showed ‘very easy’ X =4.67 -4.89. Users and judges mean responses on fit X = 4.11 – 4.56 showed good fit and the functional X=3.78 – 5.00, expressive X = 4.22 – 4.44 and aesthetics X = 4.11 – 4.22 attributes of functional clothing were considered appropriate. There were no significant differences in the mean responses of the various sizes of users on functional, expressive and aesthetic variables (P > 0.05). There were significant differences in the mean responses of caregivers and judges on functional (comfort) attributes (P < 0.05). Five recommendations were made; that government should enact policy on the use of the functional clothing by users since it was certified as good in the field test, the knowledge and skills gained from the research can be used to solve issues in clothing practical classes.
CHAPTER ONE
Background of the Study
INTRODUCTION
A child is a young person within the stage of birth till puberty existing in a family. This child is unique and special in terms of development, characteristics, personality and behaviour that much more contribute to the diversity of human kind and children. Childhood period is the most rapid period of development in a human’s life. This is critical to a child’s cognitive, social, emotional and physical development. Every child passes through different stages of patterned development marked by certain characteristics features. The child development is multidimensional and interdependent such as social, emotional, cognitive and physical motor performance (Cobby, 2001). What happens during the early years is of crucial importance for every child’s development. It is a period of great opportunity, but also vulnerability. When the quality of support, stimulation, and nurture is deficient, child development is seriously affected. Good nutrition, health, love, care and environment (home, school and society) are important conditions necessary for the child’s optimal development and survival. This child’s survival, well being and development are dependent on and built around close relationships, with parents, other family and non family members.
Survival, development, participation, care and protection are five broadly recognized rights of every child (CRC, 2009). In line with this, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the child (CRC) (2009) and African Charter on the Rights and welfare of the child (1990) provided the rights of the child to parental care, protection, early childhood education, rest and play among others. Such education should be preparatory and empowering to children, providing them with practical opportunities to exercise their responsibilities. The education should be anchored on every day issues, childcare centres and early childhood programme to give the child a better future. Adenipekun (2004) documented eight reasons for child education given at the World Conference on Education for All (EFA). Amongst these reasons are; that children undergo rapid development from conception to six years; these children have right to live and develop to their full capacity; the early child care programmes offer equal opportunities to both privileged and disadvantaged children; that through children societies pass on values and culture from generation to generation and child care provides better ways of caring for children which ensure survival. In support, CRC (2009) suggested that the provision of affordable quality programmes of early childcare should be community
based. These are part of an integrated approach to meeting the needs of the young child.
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Child’s Rights Acts (2003) stipulated that every child have the right to an education. It incorporated all the responsibilities to children by government and parents; ensuring the child is given early childhood education, protection and cares especially those of working parents in Nigeria.
The United Nation Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in cooperation with UNICEF (2004), initiated early childhood care development education (ECCDE) policy review, to help children have smooth transition from home to school. This comprises of day-care, play ground, nursery, pre nursery and kindergarten. Early childhood care development education is an education given to children prior to their entering the primary school (UNICEF, 2004). Early childhood care education is all embracing care programme for young children from birth throughout infancy to pre-school years as well as during transition to school. The Federal Government of Nigeria recognises the importance of early childhood care education in Nigeria and as a result it was given prominence in the National Policy on Education (FRN,2004) as one of the programmes in the Nigerian educational system. Child care programmes present a critical opportunity for the promotion of child development. The objectives of early childhood education according to FRN, (2004) include; to effect a smooth transition from home to school, prepare the child for primary level of education, provide adequate care and supervision for the children while their parents are at work amongst others. The Universal Basic Education (UBE) Act (2004) also expanded the scope which includes programmes and initiatives for early childhood education and development. The programme made provision for every public primary school to have pre- primary school linkage for children. Efforts are targeted at vulnerable children age 0-3 years to early childcare, early learning and getting ready for school. (UNESCO, 2007). Based on these policies, laws and in recognition of the importance of early child care; the Nigerian government mandated its establishment of early childhood education in schools. Prior to now private owners were mostly involved in the provision of ECCDE facilities (FGN 2004 and UNICEF 2004). This policy now popularized early child care development education making it compulsory in every state. This is why in 2005, the State Primary Education Board (SPEB) Asaba, Delta State issued a directive on the establishment of ECCDE care section in all primary schools in the state, in accordance with the National Policy on Education (FRN,
2004). This care section is to be headed by Caregivers to provide care to the young children aged 0-2 years in a ratio of 1:10. There are 1059 public ECCDE centres with 1,610
Caregivers who take care of the children in Delta State (SPEB, 2011). This is why
International labour organisation (ILO) (2007) posits that to promote child’s right and
development at any particular time, the child must be in care of a family or non family member.
Children need appropriate condition such as proper care; that facilitates their optimal development. Care is the integrated set of actions that ensure a child’s synergy of protection and supports to their health, nutrition, psychosocial and cognitive aspects of development (Thamos, 2004). Child care is the responsibility of parents and guidance, teachers, or any other person under whose protection the child is (CRC, 2009). Presently, however due to the economic situation many parents (both fathers and mothers alike) work for extended periods outside the home with minimal time to spend on childcare. They depend on services of crèche and childcare centres for the long period they are at work or doing businesses. Child care is the care arrangement in which the child is cared for by someone other than his/her parents (National Institute for Children Health and Human Development (NICHD) Early Childcare Research Network, 1997a). Childcare can be informal or formal. Informal childcare is done by relatives or nannies and takes place in the home, while formal childcare is by caregivers and takes place in the day care settings which is the focus of this study.
Day care is a supervised care usually outside the home for children. Day-care centre is an institution where children whose parents are engaged in work or business outside the home are given care until their parents come back. It prepares children for primary school education. Maduewesi (1999) and Tombowua (2013) posit that day care is a semi – formal education arrangement outside home where young children 0-2 years of age are exposed through play like activities for mental, social and physical learning suited to their developmental stages. The use of day care by lactating mother enables them continue exclusive breast feeding while at work and parents are sure their children are well cared for, safe and happy. A day care environment is crucial to the health, safety, protective and educational experience of children. In the day care, children are left in the care of caregivers who provide happy, healthy and understanding environment in which children grow and develop.
Caregivers are people who take care of children, the sick or elderly (Clyton, 1997). The child caregiver takes care and nurtures children who are not ready to enter kindergarten. The caregivers give the children quality support and stimulation necessary for development. They have the responsibility to protect the children from harm and in time of rest / play. The caregivers in day care centres in Delta are both single and married workers.
Majority are married women who are mothers with children who perform child care tasks in home. The single caregivers in the day care belong to families and have younger
siblings who they also help to take care of in the home. These caregivers have the experience of child care from home, training and education. They are within the ages of 18- 50 years. The quality of care given by these caregivers is paramount to the child’s development. They undertake all tasks related to the daily care of the children for survival, proper growth and development. Their duties include; feeding, changing clothing and napkins, carrying, petting to sleep, toilet training, supervision, engaging the children in social interaction, providing stimulating and safe environment for play and exploration.(Childcare Worker, 2014). They manage children’s behaviour and guide their social development appropriately. They help children grow up healthily, seeing that the children get proper nutrition and plenty of physical activity while in their care. In addition to their tasks they maintain clean working areas, make frequent movements and use of work areas, sterilize and sanitize all work tools and environment (Childcare Worker, 2014). In carrying out these tasks, caregivers are exposed to some hazards. These tasks involve range of motions and carrying care items. They carry out these odious tasks of childcare for prolonged period of time. This constitutes major challenge in clothing selection and usage. These operations require functional clothing informed by the tasks these caregivers carryout. There was no provision for caregiver’s uniform in the ECCDE policy, so caregivers use existing clothes which they do not want to soil. Sometimes, care provider/operators provide overall but this may not be adequate because it was not designed based on the tasks in the day care centres. In order to perform tasks effectively the caregivers require among other things, appropriate clothing for work. They need an outer garment that will facilitate rather than impair their jobs. Appropriate clothing strategies include; ensuring suitable clothing is worn for protection from extreme hazard conditions (Dunne, 2004). The caregivers should act as role models and demonstrate appropriate clothing by using safe clothing in the workplace; such clothing should be respectful of culture and individual dress choices (Tesman Health and Community Service, 2014).
Clothing according to Kaiser (1997) refers to any tangible or material object connected to the human body. Supporting of this, Anyakoha (2004) stated that clothing, is an article put on the body to protect, beautify or adorn it. Clothing, garment and apparel will be synonymously used to mean outer body covering constructed from fabrics. These include skirts, tops, dress, shirts, pants and other related body covering. Clothing protects people from various environmental hazards, promotes health and safety and improves workers efficiency. It can also enhance or hinder body function among different groups of people and occupations. According to Kaiser (1997), clothing has been found to be a symbol of organizational culture. Organizations develop culture with a distinctive set of values, which
are likely to be expressed through unique uniformed appearance that conforms to a formal or informal dress code of the organization. Day care centres as an organization require appropriate clothing that protects the worker from hazards and improve efficiency of task performance. This implies using functional clothing by caregivers in the day care centres. Functionality of clothing to address the needs of different occupations in an environment and the activities of the specific users is applicable in the day care centres as well. The concept of functionality in relation to the use of clothing is extremely important in occupations where high productivity, performance and safety on the job are required (Kaiser, 1997). This means that those in the practice should be identifiable, visible and if possible through appearances, express occupational roles from others within the same cultural context. This can be achieved through the use of functional clothing. Functional clothing is clothing that is specifically designed to meet user’s task performance requirements.
Functional clothing is garment that is designed with special features to aid work performance. It has to be practical, useful and allow physical body function while achieving mobility and comfort. It has a well defined functionality which distinguishes it from other clothing’s, aids in or allows individual users to perform certain tasks, protect them from certain hazard on the job (Man and Swan, 2007 and Dunne, 2004). It is clothing that serves the need to provide individuals with a specific utility such as warmth, comfort and durability (Cass 2001). They are designed to have less inhibitory effects on movements and provide maximum comforts and performance to the user as aesthetic considerations are ignored in favour of performance of the clothing (Gupta 2011). The critical design requirement of functional clothing should facilitate the transport of metabolic heat and moisture from the
body.
Design criteria refer to the design specification required to produce the functional clothing for caregivers in day care centres. Design should meet wearers’ requirements, because only the wearer that can determine the specification that can facilitate tasks efficiency. Cho (2006) reported in a study that patient gown should accommodate daily living, protect wearer privacy, don and doff and adapt to various movements/postures. The emergence of functional clothing has been promoted by recent breakthroughs and advances in technical fibres and fabrics and advances in garment manufacturing technologies. Each functional garment has its own specifications, material requirements, consequent technologies and processes. (Gupta, 2011) classifies functional clothing as protective clothing, medical clothing, therapeutic and rehabilitative clothing, bio-sensing clothing, sports clothing, vanity clothing, cross functional clothing and clothing for special needs.
Functional clothing for care givers belong to clothing for special needs. The use of existing clothes as wrapper and blouse or buba, skirts and blouse pose difficulty in attending to daily childcare tasks. Such as bathing, sterilizing feeding utensils, changing diapers and clothes, toilet training, curdling and petting the child. The clothing also restricts movement within the work place.
Movements/postures are taken by caregivers in child care to actualise tasks in the day
care centres. This depicts physical motion from point to point within a space. Gupta (2011) noted that the mechanical characteristics of clothing should match the motion, degree of freedom, range of motion, force and movement of human joints. However, care givers need functional clothing that will have special design features as large pockets, detachable cape/bib and design preference of garment with fullness disposal at strategic points for free movements/postures.
Design preference is the style preferred in a garment in relation to shape, silhouette, length, sleeve type, neckline and collar type among others. Functional clothing design for caregivers has to satisfy the general requirements of easy movement/postures, fit, comfort, protection/safety, usability, expressive and aesthetic qualities. This appropriate clothing is not in the market since manufacturers of garment do not make provision for this group of people with special needs in relations to garments (Dunne. 2004). Functional clothing provides physiological, psychological and social satisfaction to the wearer (Breza, 2007). All human beings including those with special needs have peculiar shape and sizes, the sizes must be proportionate to the wearer to achieve the purpose for which it is constructed.
Size relates to the apparent view of an object expressed in smallness, bigness and other relative terms as perceived by a person. Size as defined by Decker (2007) is the relative bigness, extent and series of standard measurement. According to Aldrich (2002) size in relation to clothing is a designation system which explains the manner which a garment fits into the wearer namely: girl, woman, boy or man. Sizing system in garment production is based on the body and not the garment (Aldrich, 2002). This is the rational for taking measurements of individuals prior to pattern drafting and garment construction. The first and most important factor in developing garments that are functional is designing, that is, conceiving the idea and implementing the ideas to meet the desired goals.
In the development of functional clothing the elements and principles of design are utilized for functionality and aesthetics of the clothing. The development of block patterns before garment construction is very important to a garment maker. It provides opportunity for corrections to be effected after series of fitting using prototype garment on the figure before
the final garment construction. Pattern drafting is the method sketching design of garment on paper based on body measurements and cut to the size of the figure. Pattern drafting according to Weber (1990) is the art of drawing and documenting all instructions needed for constructing a garment or any sewing project. Many approaches to pattern drafting have been developed namely: modelling, or draping, knock-off design, computer-aided designs, modifying from a set of patterns and flat pattern method (Igbo and Iloeje, 2003). In constructing the prototype garment the drafted pattern is used to cut out pattern pieces from the fabric. Prototype garment refers to the first design of clothing product from which other forms can be copied. It is cut and sewn from the first pattern obtained for the product to evaluate the styling and fit (Glock & Kunz, 2000). According to Frings (2003), it is simply a trial garment or sample used for fit testing.
Fit of a garment is the smooth alignment of garment parts on the body of the wearer. Such as shoulder align well, bust not tight, armhole not tight and neckline not sagging. Functional clothing design should fit wearer in all motions and postures. The wearer of a garment has the best judgement of the fit (Ring 2001). Fit has two aspects; comfort and appearance. Comfort is determined by the individual wearing the garment and appearance refers to the look, style and fashion of the garment (Lasinski, 2007). Comfort in garment is the absence of discomfort is when worn. Clothing should be comfortable to caregivers and children under their care. Garment should be appealing to the children and their parents.
The functional clothing does not however inherently disregard aesthetics or expression as these can be considered user needs or functions of clothing. Aesthetics refers to the beauty and appealing appearance of an object. Aesthetic concerns of clothing such as styling, design, fabric colour and type were the most important criteria affecting women’s decisions in clothing selection during the interest phase of their purchase (Holland, 2007 and Sindicich, 2008). Garment expression sends message and identities about the wearer in relation to roles, self esteem and self confidence. Functional clothing design needs expressive considerations and caregivers’ clothing should provide that to a possible extent. Goodwin (1994) observed that, in nursing or childcare, environments, it is very important for caregivers to wear clothing that suits their needs and reflects their value, environment and personality
In functional clothing research, a systematic approach or process is used to help designers incorporate all aspects of design development. The designer requires step-by -step development design process from the problem identification to implementation (Lamb and Kallal, 1992).Through this process the prototype garment is produced, tested and corrected to
meet the desired specification of a design. Beginning with the need for a solution, the designer works through various ideas, refine of these ideas, develop a sample garment, evaluate changes if necessary, and finally implementation into the production.
The increase in the number of day care centres in Delta State, Nigeria due to the government policy necessitates the needs to ensure that work hazards are minimized and controlled. At the same time, caregivers will become more aware of the use of functional clothing to enhance task performance while ensuring comfort, protection and safety on the job. These increase efficiency and promote productivity in the day care centres. Therefore, a need exist to develop appropriate clothing for caregivers to facilitate task performance in the day care centres who have not been well served by the clothing industry.
Statement of Problem
Naturally child care is the sole responsibility of parents in the home. Parents play a large role in a child’s life, socialization and development. This important role has been impacted by parents work outside the home. Parents in most cases spend more working hours and are subject to heavy workload. Striking balance between work and family responsibilities is a challenge for many families. For working parents, care of children is getting more and more problematic and they are in dare need of safe place to keep their children while at work (Anyakoha, 2013). The unavailability of house helps and child minders increased the demand and reliance of working parents on crèche or day care centres for child care. The proliferation of day care centres as a result of the official provision in the National Policy on Education (FRN 2004), demands adequate care and supervision for children to develop to their maximum potentials. To achieve this, appropriate conditions in terms of equipment and facilities as well as appropriate care giving clothing are paramount. Clothing should not obstruct job performance or cause safety concern in the work environment. Appropriate clothing positively affects caregivers’ productivity and tasks performance in the day care. Clothing is often overlooked facet of the work environment despite the fact that it is believed to be the most important artefacts in proximity to the body and its potential impact on a person’s immediate bodily comfort. Clothing that is appropriate for work environment adds another dimension for workers, because of the importance of professional appearance.
In the day care centres, caregivers use different types of clothes in performing childcare tasks. This is challenging to their effective child care tasks performance. The caregivers assume different postures as bending, sitting, torso twist, arm stretch, walking and undertake several body motions in tasks performance with existing clothes. As observed by
the researcher the clothes restrict mobility and postures around work area. Caregivers are faced with problems of exposure to dirt and stains on clothes; vomit splashes, liquid spill on the body and clothes. Arms are not protected when children toilet in potty or changing soiled diapers/ napkins. These may cause irritation and rashes, which are unhygienic and hazardous to the child and caregivers. Aurora Health Care Policy (2014) stated that it is important all caregivers’ clothes are neat, clean, pressed not revealing or tight fitting. Caregivers should put on gown in health care to protect the uncovered skin from likely splashes or soiling during patient care such as changing diapers (Canadian Committee on Antibiotic Resistance,
2007). Most often children return home with communicable diseases such as cough, catarrh, ringworm, measles, eczema and diarrhoea, contacted from the environment and the clothes used for childcare in day care centres. Some communicable diseases are fluid borne or spread through contact between people (Centre for Career Development, 2013). www.uwoh.edu/ccdet/caregiver. Other problems encountered in care giving include inability to carry care items as bib and handkerchief needed for easy reach which makes them undertake repeated movements around work place. This results in garment tear in some parts of the body and discomfort due to tight fitting clothes.
Evidence exist that workers place value on the stylishness and fashion ability of their
clothing (Caldwell, 1999 and Thoren, 1997). In compliance with the trend, caregivers wear clothes that are not smart enough and have poor moisture management and thermal conductivity which restrict dissipation of heat (Tesman Health and Community Service,
2014). The heat stress can be hazardous to the health and safety of children and caregivers. Weber (1990) noted that special clothes are worn to promote sanitation, health, safety and improve job efficiency such as in construction and mill works. Children love bright colours, but most clothes are neither stimulating nor inviting to the children Available clothing does not reflect aesthetic and expressive needs of the caregivers in the day care. Caregivers in day care need clothing that can allow them perform tasks safely and efficiently while maintaining their identity as professionals.
Observations showed that caregivers lack adequate clothing for the tasks of child care in day care centres. Functional clothing is important but it is not used. They do not wear appropriate clothing designed to meet their needs in childcare. They need functional clothing because their clothing does not meet their requirements of the job of care giving. The functional clothing has to be tailored towards the tasks. This informed the research into the development of functional clothing for caregiver in day-care centres. The functional clothing will be specifically designed to meet the functionality indicators of easy movement and
posture, fit, comfort, protection/safety, usability, expressive, aesthetic attributes for maximum tasks performance.
Many professions in Nigeria where functional clothing are worn are produced based on management decision without the input of users and professionals in clothing. As such the clothing does not meet the required functional requirements of users. This is why research on functional clothing for different occupation requires the researcher to develop functional clothing for caregivers in day care centres in Delta State.
Purpose of the Study
The main purpose of the study was to develop functional clothing for caregivers in day-care centres in Delta State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study:
1) identified the tasks performed by caregivers in the day-care centres in Delta State;
2) determined the functional clothing requirements (needs) of the caregivers based on the tasks performed in day-care centres;
3) determined design criteria required to generate design ideas of functional clothing for caregivers;
4) determined the necessary desirable design features based on clothing needs of the caregivers in day-care centres;
5) determined the design preferences of functional clothing for caregivers and select a final design;
6) determined the body measurements for the construction of the functional clothing of different sizes (small, medium and large) for caregivers in day-care centres;
7) developed patterns for the final design based on the body measurements of different sizes of caregivers in day-care centres;
8) constructed the functional clothing for caregivers in day-care centres from the patterns
of different sizes obtained;
9) assessed the appropriateness of various sizes of functional clothing by users based on movement/posture, fit, comfort, protection/safety, usability (functional), expressive and aesthetic variables;
10) determined the appropriateness of the functional clothing on caregivers by judges based on fit, comfort, movement and aesthetic variables;
11) modified functional clothing based on feedback from the assessment of users and judges
Significance of the Study
Caregivers face a lot of job hazards in practice. This makes functional clothing necessary to facilitate task performance. This study gives a perspective to designers that are involved in making occupational clothes to provide required standards in functional clothing for potential users. The findings of this study will benefit the following individuals namely; caregivers, children, parents, garment designers, unemployed individuals, corporate investors, stakeholders in ECCDE, government, lecturers and students and curriculum planners.
The findings of this study will benefit caregivers in day care centres in Delta State, as they will enjoy relief in the use of the new clothing. The functional clothing garment will help facilitate care giving tasks and enhance job performance. The appropriate use of the garment will provide comfort, protection and mobility and allow different postures within the workplace. The functional clothing usage by care givers will go a long way in eliminating the challenges faced in meeting job demands. When appropriate care is given to the children, it helps them develop physically, mentally, emotionally and function effectively in the society.
The children in the day care will benefit from the findings of this study by enjoying adequate care from caregivers. Child care tasks can now be performed by caregivers using appropriate clothing that is neat and safe. This is because adequate care giving will help to prevent the spread of communicable disease such as cough, eczema among children and promote their health. This in turn will enable children explore and adjust to the environment as well as learn traits necessary for optimal growth and development.
Parents of the children will benefit from the findings of this study as they are confident that their children are under adequate care and secure in a safe environment while they carry on with their jobs and businesses without interference of childcare. The children are adequately cared for, using appropriate clothing that boost care giving tasks performance. This helps the children to adapt to the day care environment. This is because children need appropriate conditions including functional clothing for care for optimal health and safety.
The findings of this study will be of benefit to garment manufacturers, since the blocks from this study could be adapted into patterns for mass production of functional garment that will meet several design and human factors. Economically, the garment produced from the patterns will generate income for the manufacturers. Appropriate clothing will be produced based on the users’ needs which help to eliminate wastage in production. Also the construction of garment will provide employment for people in the garment construction sectors.
In this era of entrepreneurial development, the unemployed individuals will benefit from this study as they can undertake production of commercial pattern making in functional clothing for child care-givers. They can then become entrepreneurs in commercial pattern production. In Nigeria today, commercial patterns are no longer in the markets. Garment makers will have easy reach to patterns with which to produce functional clothing for large scale consumers. The sale of these patterns generates income for the entrepreneur, who becomes “job creator and not job seeker,” contributing to economic development. The products exhibition and test for acceptability will trigger entrepreneurial initiatives and exposed designers, students and the public to a new way of solving clothing problems.
The finding for this study will benefit corporate investors who can now engage in the production, marketing and distribution of product nationally and internationally. This will generate income and job opportunity for the individuals and industries, thereby alleviating poverty and reducing social vices.
The Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Education and State Primary Education Board (SPEB) and Local Government Education Authority (LGEA) who are stake holders in Early Childcare Development Education (ECCDE) and Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) will benefit from the findings, because they will help to maintain standard in clothing use by care givers, which will promote self image, functionality, uniformity and professionalism.
The government will also benefit from the findings of this study. The information obtained from this study will help the government formulate policies on hygiene and safety in relation to care-giving clothing in day care centres. This is because the children in the day care need clean clothing for good health and safe care giving by the caregivers. Caregivers will face less difficulty in performing childcare tasks in the day care.
Lecturers, teachers and students of clothing and textiles in schools will benefit from the findings of this study, since it will contribute to their knowledge expansion. They will find it handy as reference materials in teaching and learning, pattern making and functional clothing design for different working groups. Tertiary institutions offering Home Economics and most Fashion and Design schools, staff, students, and trainees will utilize the findings to develop prototype clothing products in some other occupations.
Curriculum planners will benefit from the findings by using pattern drafting and functional clothing design process to enrich the school syllabus. This study on clothing needs of care givers is important since there is a proliferation of day care centres due to the government policy. Recommendations will be made to Nigerian Educational Research
Development Council (NERDC) and National University Commission (NUC) which are responsible for curriculum reviews and approval for secondary schools and universities respectively. The utilization will enrich the clothing and textiles and garment making syllabus at these levels of education.
Research Questions
The study was guided by the following research questions:
1) What are the tasks performed by caregivers in the day-care centres in Delta State?
2) What are the functional clothing requirements (needs) of the caregivers based on their tasks in day-care centres in Delta State, Nigeria?
3) What are the design criteria required to generate design idea of functional clothing for caregivers?
4) What are the necessary desirable design features based on the clothing needs of the caregivers in day-care centres.
5) What are the design preferences of functional clothing for caregivers and final design selected?
6) What are the body measurements for the construction of the functional clothing of
different sizes (small, medium and large) for caregivers in day-care centres?
7) What are the mean ratings of the users on the appropriateness of various sizes of functional clothing based on movement/posture, fit, comfort, protection/safety, usability (functional), expressive and aesthetic variables?
8) What are the mean ratings of the judges on the appropriateness of the functional clothing on caregivers based on fit, comfort, movement and aesthetic variables?
Research Hypotheses
The following null hypotheses guided the study and were tested at 0.05 level of significance.
HO1: There is no significant difference in the mean ratings of design features between the single and married caregivers
HO2: There is no significant difference in the mean ratings of design preferences between the single and married caregivers;
HO3: There is no significant difference in the mean ratings of small, medium and large size- based users on mobility requirements of the functional clothing.
HO4: There is no significant difference in the mean ratings of small, medium and large size- based users on fit requirements of the functional clothing.
HO5: There is no significant difference in the mean ratings of the small, medium and large size-based users on comfort requirements of the functional clothing.
HO6: There is no significant difference in the mean ratings of small, medium and large size- based users on safety/protection requirements of the functional clothing.
HO7: There is no significant difference in the mean ratings of small, medium and large size- based users on expressive qualities of the functional clothing.
HO8: There is no significant difference in the mean ratings of small, medium and large size- based users on aesthetic requirements of the functional clothing.
HO9: There is no significant difference in the mean ratings of small, medium and large size- based users on usability of the functional clothing.
HO10: There is no significant difference between the mean ratings of caregivers and judges on the fit of the functional clothing.
HO11: There is no significant difference between the mean ratings of caregivers and judges on the functional attributes of the prototype clothing.
HO12: There is no significant difference between the mean ratings of caregivers and judges on the aesthetic qualities of the functional clothing.
Scope of the Study
This study was delimited to outer garment. The study was delimited to caregivers in child care centres in public primary schools in Delta State. The caregivers who are between the ages of 18 to 50 were used for the study. The study focused on caregivers who possess at least secondary school certificate and have worked in child care centres in not less than two years. These caregivers who were usually single and married as reviewed by literature were used because it is assumed they have knowledge of child care practices during training/education and majority are mothers. They perform tasks of feeding, changing napkins and baby clothing, give toilet training, carry and play with the children. The study covered essential garment requirement indicators; movement, fit, comfort, protection/safety, usability, aesthetic and expressive qualities for caregivers. The functional clothing design
focused on the caregivers’ tasks, design requirements, task – related design features/
preferences and construction of prototype clothing.
The prototype clothing developed was assessed based on variables under study by users and judges. The judges include; clothing and textiles lecturers, care providers, secretaries of local government education authority (LGEA) and tailors. The study covered the twenty-five (25) local government areas in Delta State Nigeria.
This material content is developed to serve as a GUIDE for students to conduct academic research
DEVELOPMENT OF FUNCTIONAL CLOTHING FOR CAREGIVERS IN DAY CARE CENTRES IN DELTA STATE NIGERIA.>
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