Child labour in Zaria, Nigeria

Abstract

Background/Objective:

Method:
The study involved the administration of questionnaires to all children aged 5-15 years engaged in child labour in Zaria city in order to obtain data on socio-demographic characteristics, socio-economic factors influencing child labour, impact on health status and school attendance and performance.

Results:
Two hundred children were interviewed, their ages ranged from 5 to 15 years. The majority of the children were in the age group 11-13 years (57.5%), mean age 11.4 years +/- 2.4. Sex distribution shows a male preponderance (82%); Hausas constituted 92%, and all belonged to Islamic faith (100%). Most of the children encountered the following health hazards, physical assault (beaten by their seniors) (61%), cuts from instruments (52.3%), falls (23.4%) and poor school performance (33.8%).

Conclusion:
Keywords:
Child labour; socio-economic factors; health consequences

Annals of African Medicine Vol. 5(2) 2006: 97-100