Prevalence, types and demographic features of child labour among school children in Nigeria
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http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-698X/5/2http://www.doaj.org/doaj?func=openurl&genre=article&issn=1472698X&date=2005&volume=5&issue=1&spage=2
Abstract
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To determine the prevalence, types and demographic features of child labour among school children in Nigeria.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross-sectional interview study of 1675 randomly selected public primary and secondary school pupils aged 5 to less than 18 years was conducted in the Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria from October 1998 to September 1999.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The overall prevalence of child labour was 64.5%: 68.6% among primary and 50.3% among secondary school pupils. Major economic activities included street trading (43.6%), selling in kiosks and shops (25.4%) and farming (23.6%). No child was involved in bonded labour or prostitution. Girls were more often involved in labour activities than boys (66.8% versus 62.1%, p = 0.048): this difference was most obvious with street trading (p = 0.0004). Most of the children (82.2%) involved in labour activities did so on the instruction of one or both parents in order to contribute to family income. Children of parents with low socio-economic status or of poorly educated parents were significantly involved in labour activities (p = 0.01 and p = 0.001 respectively). Child labour was also significantly associated with increasing number of children in the family size (p = 0.002). A higher prevalence rate of child labour was observed among children living with parents and relations than among those living with unrelated guardians.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>It is concluded that smaller family size, parental education and family economic enhancement would reduce the pressure on parents to engage their children in labour activities.</p>Date
2005Type
ArticleIdentifier
oai:doaj-articles:b08000a60a0f9f407c05bfba2f06d69chttp://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-698X/5/2
http://www.doaj.org/doaj?func=openurl&genre=article&issn=1472698X&date=2005&volume=5&issue=1&spage=2