Extent of child labor in ancestral occupation: a reflection from washer-men community in Karachi
Mansuri, F.A.
Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences 18(2): 131-134
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 1682-024X Document Number: 262683
Objective: This study was conducted to assess the magnitude of child labour in relevance to occupation and to establish an association with the risk factors. Methods: It is a cross sectional study carried out in March 2000. Forty children between the ages of 7-15 years were selected randomly in the washer-men community of Goharabad, Karachi. Results: Seventy percent of the children helped their families in miscellaneous steps of washing irrespective of their age and school status. The occurrence of skin disease was 37.5%, diarrhoea 20%, minor ailments 37.5% and miscellaneous diseases account for 5% including malaria and chicken pox. Out of all the children 35% were enrolled in primary and 10% in secondary school. Seventeen percent (n=24) of fathers and 8% of mothers were literate. The study established a significant association between illiteracy and child neglect (OR=1.27 CI is 1.23, 1.30). Conclusion: Occupational abuse is more common among children of illiterate parents. Most of the children are engaged in the washing process as a customary obligation and suffer mostly from skin disease and minor seasonal ailments.