Main Article Content

Parents' Perception on the Effects of Child Labour in a community in Anambra State, Nigeria


C Ubajaka
CB Duru
CC Nnebue
OB Okwaraoha
GO Ifeadike

Abstract

Background: According to a survey conducted by the Federal Office of Statistics (FOS) in 2003, more than 15 million Nigerian children under the age of 14 are working, mostly to help pay for the cost of going to school. The prevalence of child labour in Nigeria ranges from 20% to 30% and this is not without some untoward effects. This study, on parents' perception of the effects of child labour, becomes relevant since most of these children are forced to work by their parents.
Objectives: This study is to determine the parents perception and the effects of child labour.
Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out among 352 parents in Nnewi, Anambra State. A multistage sampling technique was used in the study, and involved
simple random sampling and the modified WHO cluster sampling techniques. Information was obtained using selfadministered semi-structured questionnaires, and was analyzed with computer softwares.
Results: The majority of the parents 79.26% (279) have good knowledge of child labour. Most of the parents 66.19% (216) consider child labour as hazardous, while 33.81% (136) believe it is beneficial. Adverse effects of child labour perceived by parents' ranges from sexual harassment, teenage pregnancy, termination of formal education, to the contraction of sexually transmitted disease. Out of the 352 parents, 27.96% (78) admitted they practice child labour while 72.04% (201) did not.
Conclusion: A careful consideration of the findings of this study will equip stakeholders with the necessary input for the enactment of policies, legislations and profering a lasting
solution to this menace.

Key words: Parents, perception, child labour.

Afrimedic Journal 2010; 1(1):15-19

Journal Identifiers


eISSN:
print ISSN: 2141-162X