Health of children working in small urban industrial shops

Abstract

Aims: To explore associations between work status and multidimensional health indices in a sample of urban Lebanese children. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was used to compare 78 male children (aged 10-17 years) working full time in small industrial shops, and a comparison group of 60 non-working male schoolchildren. All children lived and worked or studied in the poor neighbourhoods of three main Lebanese cities. Results: Working children reported frequent abuses. They smoked and dated more than the comparison group. They also reported a higher number of injuries (last 12 months) and recent skin, eye, and ear complaints (last two weeks). Physical examination revealed more changes in their skin and nails, but no differences in height or weight compared to non-working group. A higher blood lead concentration was detected among working children, but no differences in haemoglobin and ferritin. No differences were noted between the two groups of children regarding anxiety, hopelessness, and self-esteem. The drawings of the working children, however, revealed a higher tendency to place themselves outside home and a wider deficit in developmental age when compared to non-working children. Conclusion: Significant differences were found between working and non-working children with respect to physical and social health parameters, but differences were less with regard to mental health. Future research should focus on (1) more sensitive and early predictors of health effects, and (2) long term health effects. The generality of findings to other work settings in the developing world should also be tested.

Impact of child labor in stone quarries on his health status in El- Minia city

“…This is resulting from lifting heavy limestone bricks, or from nature of work assumed by those children because some natures of work requiring long standing for long periods of times or squatting position. This finding is in agreement with other studies (Mahmoud 2004,Nuwayhid et al,.2005). According to the cardiovascular complaints, the present study reported that rapid heart rate was most common among studied group than control.…”

“…As regard the methods of spending child's wage, the present study clears that more than two third of the studied group were spending their wages on themselves and on their families. Similar results were reported by (Nuwayhid et al;. Also the present study showed that more than two third of the studied group were not jointed to another work before stone quarry work.…”

“…These results go in line with (Nuwayhid et al 2005). According to the reasons of starting the work among studied group it was found that the main common causes of work among studied group were need to money, to share in family income and due to educational difficulties.…”

“…The same respiratory manifestations were stated by other studies (. Mahmoud 1995, Nuwayhid et al, 2005. Musculoskeletal complaints; such as backache, muscle twitching and fatigue were also most prevalent among the studied group than the control group.…”

“…This result go in line with (Haggag 1995) and study carried out in Lebanon by (. Nuwayhid et al;. Also more than half of the studied group their father's jobs were unskilled workers especially in quarrying sector.…”