Applying the Omaha System to Determine Health Problems Among Child Workers: Example from a Suburb of Istanbul

Abstract

Background: Education has important effects on the physical and psychosocial development of children. However, a high rate of children worldwide engaged in child labour, and a majority of them deprived of formal education opportunities due to work. Work conditions have a multifaceted, negative effect on children's health and quality of life. In this context, it was aimed to determine the physiological, psychosocial, and health-related behaviours, as well as the environmental problems of migrant and non-migrant child workers in lower-secondary schools in using the Omaha System Problem Classification Scheme, and to examine related factors. Method: This is descriptive-correlational and observational study. The sample was selected using a purposive sampling method. The study population comprised migrant and non-migrant child workers from two lower-secondary schools in suburb of Istanbul. Descriptive Characteristics Assessment Form and Nightingale Notes Software based on the terminology of the Omaha System were used for data collection.Results: The participants were 81 child workers aged 10–13 years, 86% of them were male. 12% of them were migrant from Syria. 85% worked to contribute their family income. The most common health problems were mental health, neglect, income, oral health, nutrition, personal care, physical activity, sleep and rest patterns, and neighbourhood/workplace safety. There was an association between mental health problems and family health status; between individual health status and oral health as well as role change; between maternal education level and oral health as well as personal care and between nutrition and paternal education level (p<.05).Conclusion: The Omaha system was found suitable for determining health problems of migrant and non-migrant juvenile labour. However, it is necessary to prevent poverty, develop the understanding of the social state, and comply with legal norms. We recommend that researchers examine the health of child workers in long-term and mixed-method observational studies.