Predictors of child labour among in-school adolescents in a rural local government area in Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Child labour continues to be a daunting challenge worldwide. Child labour contradicts the intrinsic value Africans place on children. Objective: The study determined the prevalence and predictors of child labour. Subjects: in-school adolescents aged 10-14 years Methodology: This descriptive cross-sectional study design. The data was collected using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire on child labour, school attendance, and academic performance. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Result: About 31.5% of the 660 participants had ever been engaged in child labour while 24.2% were currently engaged. The types of child labour the respondents were involved in included shop trading (85.0%) and street hawking (76.3%). Most employers of child labour were parents (85.0%) and the majority (71.3%) were unpaid. Few respondents involved in child labour had good attendance record (14.2%) and good academic performance (10.6%). The predictors of child labour include mothers lower education (OR=8.786, 95%CI= 3.589-21.508, p<0.0001), having more than three children in the family (OR=2.488, 95%CI=1.403-4.425, p=0.002) and loss of parents (OR=1.7, 95%CI=1.059-2.755, p=0.028). Conclusion: Child labour was prevalent among in-school adolescents. It negatively influences school attendance and academic performance. It is necessary to discourage child labour through community sensitization and improving the socio-economic status of parents.