Study Of Social Problems And Correlates Of Child Labourers In Slums Of Nagpur

Abstract

Research question: What are the social and work related problems of child labourers? Objectives:1.To study social problems of child labourers. 2. To study some work related problems of child labourers. 3. To study some factors associated with child labourers. Study design: cross sectional study with comparison group. Setting: shivankarnagar & Hasanbagh slums under field practice area of PSM deptt., Govt. Medical College, Nagapur. Participants: 223 child labourers and 223 randomly selected controls from same area aged upto 15 years, sex matched and group matched for age. Results: Prevalence of child labourers in study areas was 21.3%, 43(19.3) females and 180 (80.7%) males. Lower socio-economic status, large family size(>6), parental illiteracy and single parenthood were significantly associated with child labour. They were working in varied occupations â€" majority (32.7%) being in garage and workshops. Inadequate family income (74.4%) and parental compulsion (20.6%) were the common reasons cited by child labourers for their jobs â€" school drop â€" outs 173(78.3%), bad habits 56(25.1%), prolonged working hours (mean-8.5+4.5), no holidays and rest hours, inadequate daily wages, verbal (29%) & physical abuse (2.7%) were the common problems of child labourers, observed in the present study.