Care of disabled children and women's time use

Previous research has estimated the effect of children's health care needs on women's market and nonmarket roles. This article reports the results of a study on the impact of health care for disabled children on women's nonmarket work. (Effects on women's market work are reported elsewhere.) Data from 369 families of disabled children and 456 randomly selected families were analyzed. Disabled children increase the time spent in household work by married mothers. Single mothers do not show significant effects. Estimates are also presented of parents' time spent in administering therapy to the disabled child and in escorting the child to the site of medical care.