CHILD LABOR IN CAR-REPAIR WORKSHOPS: SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS AND HEALTH HAZARDS | ||||
| Egyptian Journal of Occupational Medicine | ||||
| Article 7, Volume 46, Issue 1, January 2022, Page 105-122 PDF (696.04 K) | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejom.2021.83814.1241 | ||||
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| Authors | ||||
| Elghazally S A1; Ahmed S M1; Ali H R2; Ibrahim A K1 | ||||
| 1Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt. | ||||
| 2Ministry of Health, Assiut. | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| Introduction: Child labor has serious impact on physical and psychological development of children. In addition, it affects their educational and academic performance. Aim of Work: to identify the socio-demographic characteristics of children working in car repair workshops in Al-Sadat area of Assiut city and to recognize some of its adverse health consequences. Materials and Methods: A crosssectional design study was conducted in Assiut; Egypt among 160 young workers aged 7- 17 years old currently working at car repair workshops. A structured interview questionnaire was used to assess the socio-demographic data, occupational history, work-related injuries and illnesses during last 2 years. All children were subjected to clinical and laboratory examinations. Results: About three-quarters (72.5%) of the working children had large-sized families; their parents were illiterate/read and write (72.5% and 87.5% respectively). About one quarter (22.5%) of the studied children was smokers and smoking rate was higher with increase work duration/day. Helping their families in expenditures was the most common reason for starting work (43.1%). About 8% of the working children suffered from allergy-related symptoms especially among car painters group. The prevalence of work-related injuries was about 18% and there was positive correlate between frequency of injury and work duration. About half of the studied group was anemic (56.2%). Conclusion and Recommendations: Children working in car repair workshops are exposed to unsafe working conditions, hence they are at higher risk of health infirmities and work-related injuries. Enforcement of the legislation that prohibits child-work is the key solution. Parallel to this, it is important to pay more attention to the health effects of working children through performing periodic medical checkup to monitor their health and development. Also, inauguration of successful policies to promote safer work practices for young workers. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Child Labor; Car-repair workshops; Health Hazards and Work-related injuries | ||||
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