INTRODUCTION:

We worry about what a child will become tomorrow,

Yet we forget that he is someone today.

- Stacia Tauscher

“Today’s children's are tomorrow's citizens, a well developed child contributes to the nation welfare and children are the precious resources of the nation.”

They should be protected against all forms of exploitation and victimization. Each new generation offers humanity another chance for survival, a child is regarded as the future hope of the family and as an individual he will determine the kind of status, the family would acquired in the future.¹

The Indian academy of pediatrics (IAP) has advocated that pediatric care declaration in the year 2000 as the year for the “child at risk”, it refers to orphans, destitute, street, physically, mentally challenged children and child labour.⁴ The term “child at work” indicates unexploitative employment of children, for example, in the developing countries, children as they grow, learn to get involved in the household work or vocation of the family as soon as they are capable of helping.

Thus “child labour” indicates employment of child for economic wage earning work and the child is subjected to various hazards related to his mental, physical and social health. The child loses his “childhood” abruptly and is prematurely pushed to live an adult life and shoulder responsibilities.⁵

According to International Labour Organization (ILO, 1990) child labour is defined as “children permanently leading adult lives working long hours for a few wages under conditions, damaging to their health and to their physical and mental development”.⁶

NEED FOR STUDY:

Around the world, more than 350 million children, aged from 5 to 17, are at work. A significant proportion is very young between 5 and 11 and many of these are not even paid for their services. Asia has the largest total number of working children, 60% of the world’s total.

A summary by the ILO showed that, the world’s 211 million working children aged from 5 to 14 were situated in the regions of the world. The said statistics is an alarming picture. Most of the world’s 211 million children under 15 who work still live at home and work their or on a family farm, in relatively little danger.¹⁰

As per census, India has around 250 million children who are between the age group of 5-14 years. The census reported that among the children aged 10-14 years who are economically active, 70% were involved in agriculture and forestry; 15% were engaged in wholesale and retail trade; and 6.5% were involved in manufacturing and recycling.¹¹

According to Statistical Information and Monitoring Programme on Child labour (SIMPOC) 2004, about 1.2 million children were in employment, among them 16.2 lakh were child labourers and 14.1 lakh children were working in hazardous setting throughout the world. By 2008 it was increased to 1.25 million children were still in employment, among them 14.5 lakh children were involved in child labour and 12.6 lakh in hazardous work.¹⁴

In Asia during the year 2004, about 65000 children were reported to be in employment, among them 18.8000 were child labourers, the report also shows that by the year 2008, there is consistent increase in the child employment that is about 66000 in that 14.8000 were child labour and 12.5000 were working in hazardous setting.¹⁴

In India, central ministry of health conducts a census on child labour every decade. The report of 1971 census shows that, there are 107 million working children aged between 5-14 years, the report of in 2001 shows, the tremendous increase in child labour to 126 million all over India. In Karnataka state census of child labour in the year 1971, shows about 8 lakh children were victims of child labour and during the year 2001 there is a slow but steady increase in rates of child labourers.¹⁵

According to the Registrar General Govt. of India: between 14 – 18 million children aged 5 to 14 years work for wages many social agencies claim that 44 million is a realistic estimate of the prevalence of child labour accomplished by product of poverty, industrialization, in adequate Enforcement of labour laws and other social factors.¹⁵ It is obvious that child labour can have significant adverse effect on the health and well being of children during a critical phase in their life.⁹

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:

“A descriptive study to assess the parental knowledge and attitude on child labour and health problems of their working children in selected areas of Belgaum city, Karnataka”

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:

1. To assess the parental knowledge and attitude on child labour among parents of working children.

2. To identify health problems of working children.

3. To find out correlation between parental knowledge and attitude on child labour.

4. To find out the correlation of parental knowledge on child labour with health problems of their working children.

5. To find out the correlation of parental attitude on child labour with health problems of their working children.

6. To find out association of parental knowledge and attitude on child labour with demographic variables

7. To find out the association between health problem of working children with their demographic variables.

OPERATIONAL DEFINITION:

1. Child labour:

In this study child labour refers to the children aged between 10-15year working for long hour and wages under conditions, damaging their health and physical development.

2. Health problems:

In this study the health problems refers to physical problems of working children due to working environment and duration of working.

3. Working children:

In this study the working children refers to children who are earning on daily wages in garages and factory whose age group is in between 10-15 years.

4. Parental Knowledge on child labour:

In this study it refers to awareness of parents of working children regarding meaning, causes, ill effects and legal implication of child labour.

5. Parental Attitude on child labour:

In this study it refers to opinion of parents on child labour.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Parents whose child is working and has an age of 10-15 years.

2. Parents whose children are working in garages and factories of Belgaum city.

3. A parent whose child is working either part timer or full time job.

4. Those are willing to participate.

5. Parents (either mother or father), who is able to understand either Marathi, Kannada or English.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

1. Parents having working children whose age group are below 10 years and above 15years.

2. Parents of working children who are not residing in Belgaum city.

DELIMITATION:

The study will be limited to:

Parents of children working in garage and factories.

1. Parents (either mother or father) of 80 working children residing in Belgaum city.

2. The data collection period of 4-6weeks.

3. Physical problems of working children.

The review of literature:

A cross sectional study was conducted in the rural and urban areas of Pondicherry to determine the prevalence of child labour among school children and to study the factors related to child labour - like the reasons for working, problems faced by the child, workplace conditions, etc. The study was carried out in the schools of 5^th to 10^th standard. 720 students were selected for the study. The children who were working were further interviewed using a pre-tested interview schedule. The results revealed that the overall prevalence of child labour in the study was 32.5%. The number of students who worked in the rural and urban area was 131 (42.8%) and 103 (24.9%) respectively. 90% of the children in the rural area and 80.8% in the urban area said low income was the main reason for them to go to work. Overall, 78.6% visited a health facility like a health center or hospital in the past one year for any health complaints. 75.9% of rural and 87.2% urban areas children were scolded by their employer at working place. 65.1% rural and 62.8% in urban area children were beaten or scolded by their employer for working slowly. The study concluded that compare to urban children rural children had more health complaints and beating or scolded was more in rural setting.

A cross sectional study done in Bangalore among 500 families to assess the various reasons for sending their children to work. The researcher carefully designed purposive sampling for gathering representative data. The analysis of data showed that poverty 32.78% and inadequate family income 23.45% together account for 56.23% of those who are sending their children to work largely due to their poor economic conditions. The presence of more number of children is the single most and basic reason for sending their kids to work which contributes for 34.78%. The studies have revealed that, 24.15% work in garages, 21.38% are in construction sites, 18.35% are in the hotels, and 10% are in small scale/cottage industries or a factory which does not come under factory act 1948. Also 7.15% are in automobiles, 8.34% are in shop and establishments. 6.45% are in family occupations. 3.12% are in pavement selling, and 3.45% are in glass, stone cutting and metal work. The study suggested that because of poor economic condition more than 50% of children are working.

A cross sectional study was conducted in Udaipur to assess the health status and occupational hazards of the street children. 200 street children working in various factories, restaurants, dhabas, tea stalls and small industries were interviewed with the help of the structured questionnaire. The results of the study revealed that 26% of these children had fungal infection of skin and nails, while 14% had injuries in hand and feet as occupational hazards. The study concluded that, the street children were also found to be addicted to gutakha (92%), tobacco (65.5%), smoking (33.5%) and alcohol (01%).³⁶

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:

Research approach and Research design:

A non experimental design and descriptive survey approach was used in the study.

Setting:

The study was conducted in the selected areas of Belgaum city, Karnataka (Kadoli, S. Kagarali, Gangwadi and old Belgaum).

Population:

In the present study the population comprised of parents having working child below 15 years of age

Independent variable:

In this study independent variables of parents are informer, age, sex, employment status, economic status, education, type of family, area of residence and monthly income.

In this study independent variables of working child are Age, gender, area of working, monthly income and number of working hour in a day.

Dependent variable:

In this study dependent variables are parental knowledge and attitude on child labour and health problems in working children.

Sample and sample size:

The present study was conducted among 80 parents whose children are working.

Sampling technique:

The sampling technique used for the present study is purposive sampling which is a type of Non probability sampling technique and was considered appropriate for the study.

Description of the tool:

The tools were divided into five parts;

Part A Demographic Data of parents. It consists of 12 items of demographic variables.

Part B Structured interview schedule seeks information about knowledge on child labour.

Part C Attitude scale to assess the attitude among parents towards child labour.

Part D Demographic Data of working child as reported by parents. It consists of 12 items.

Part E Check list developed by “Dr. Poch Bunnak” was utilized to collect the physical health problems of working children as reported by the parent.

Ethical clearance:

Ethical clearance was obtained.

Reliability:

· The reliability co-efficient of the whole test was then estimated by using Spearman-Brown Prophecy formula.

· The knowledge questionnaire was found reliable (0.920).

· The attitude questionnaire was also found reliable (0.639).

· The common health problem was also found reliable (0.84).

RESULTS:

Major findings of the study:

Finding related to demographic variable of parents of working children.

Majority 61.25% of the informers were father of working child (Fig.1). Regarding their age most 51.25% of them belong to the age group of 26 to 35 years and With regard to the residence majority 75% of them were living urban area. While considering the socio-economic status most 53 (66.25%) of the sample belongs to moderate socio-economic status (Fig.2) and most of them had a habits of chewing tobacco, smoking and alcohol majority (88.75%) of the parents had habits out of this 86.25% of them were having the habit of chewing tobacco. While considering the religion of the sample 70% were Hindu.

Regarding education most of 87.5% father’s was illiterate and 87.5% mothers were illiterate (Fig.3). 40% of the samples were working in private sector. While considering the family economic status 47.5% of the samples belong to monthly family income of Rs.2001 – 4000. With regard to the type of family 55 % belong to the joint family and most 68.75% of the working children were going for work on voluntary(Fig.4). Majority 73.75% of parents were child labourers during their childhood (Fig.5).

Assessment of parental knowledge and attitude on child labour:

Table 1 Mean and Standard Deviation of parental knowledge and attitude on child labour. (N=80)

Statistics	Knowledge Score	Attitude Score
Mean Score	56.37.	70.26.
Standard Deviation	11.61.	5.94.

The table 1 explains that the parents of working children scored mean knowledge on child labour of 56.37 with a standard deviation of 11.61 and mean attitude regarding parents of child labour was 70.26 with standard deviation 5.94.

Finding related to demographic variable of working children.

A majority 71.25% of working children belong to the age group of 12-13years (Fig.6), considering the gender, 85% of working children were males. Most 72.5% of working children had no bad habits and 65% of children were working in garage setting and remaining 28 (35%) were engaged in factory work. While considering the monthly income of working children 66.25% earn in the range of Rs.2001-4000. Regard to working hours in a day, about 60% of children work for 6-8 hours and considering the duration of child labour 63.75% of the children were working since from 1-2 years.

Identification of health problems among working children

Table 2: Frequency and percentage distribution of Common Health Problems of working Children:

(N=80)

Sl No.	INTERPRETATION	Frequency of Sample	Percentage
1	Normal	00	00
2	Mild	04	05
3	Moderate	74	92.5
4	Severe	02	02.5

Table 2 portrays that around 74 (92.5%) of working children have reported moderate health problems which needs some medical intervention, 4 (5%) of them had mild health problems and 2 (2.5%) of them reported sever health problems which need urgent medical intervention (Fig-11).

Fig 11: Percentage Distribution of Working Children Common Health Problems

Table 3: Mean and Standard Deviation of working children on common health problems

(N=80)

Statistics	Score
Mean Score	50.75.
Standard Deviation	5.36.

The table 3 depicts that the mean score of physical problems of working children were 50.75 with the standard deviation of 5.36.

Total classified frequency and percentage distribution of Common Physical Health Problems among Working Children. (N=80)

The physical problems experienced by the children while working in garages and factories were found as follows: Majority of children had reported that experiencing the following problems sometimes: minor cuts (39.38%). Maximum number of children had rarely broken their bone (19.38%), had sometime sprains (34.69%) and minor burns (16.87%). Maximum number of children never experienced chest pain (14.69%) and Majority of children had backache (41.25%) sometime. Most of children had body and muscle ache often (37.5%), maximum number of children had breathing difficulty sometime (41.25%). Fig 13 a

Majority of children had often headache (53.75%) and had fever sometime (26.25%). Maximum number of children had often cough (43.75%) and had dizziness rarely (23.12%). Stomach ache was experienced sometime by (48.75%) children. Maximum number of working children had sometime diarrhea/constipation (26.25%). Majority of the children were suffering with rare itching (23.12%) and skin rashes (16.25%). More number of children had never suffered with eye irritation (14.49%) and hearing impairment (20.62%). Most of the working children had (33.75%) difficulty in sleep sometime and maximum number of children had never suffered with other physical problems (24.38%) Fig 13 b

Correlation between parental knowledge, attitude on child labour and common health problems of their working child:

Table 5: Correlation between parental knowledge, attitude on child labour and common health problems of their working child. (N=80)

Variables	Knowledge	Attitude	Health problems
Knowledge	1	0.33***	0.08
Attitude	0.33***	1	0.1
Health problems	0.08	0.1	1

(*** - refers to highly significance; P<0.01)

Table 5 denotes that there is a low positive correlation between parental knowledge and attitude on child labour (r= 0.33) and significant at (P<0.01). With health problems, low positive correlation (r=0.08) and not significant at (P<0.05). There is a low positive correlation between attitude and health problems (r=0.1) and not significant at (P<0.05).

Association between parental knowledge and attitude on child labour with demographic variables:

There is a significant association between parental knowledge and father education. There was no significant association found between parental knowledge and Informer, age, area of residence, socio-economic status, habits, religion, mothers education, employment status, monthly income, type of family, reason for sending the child for work and have you work in childhood.

Association between parental attitudes on child labour with demographic variables:

There is a significant association between parental attitude and demographic variables like age and monthly income. There is no significant association found between parental attitude and informer, area of residence, socio-economic status, habits, religion, mothers and father education, employment status, type of family, reason for sending the child for work and have you work in childhood.

Association between health problems of working children with their demographic variables:

There is no significant association found between common health problems and demographic variables like age, gender, area of working, habits, monthly income, number of working hours and duration of child labour not associated.

Implications for Nursing Education:

The nursing curriculum should having emphasis on child labour and its consequences which help the nurses to interview the target group in the form of health awareness, prevention of child labour and care of physical health problems among working children.

Implications for Nursing Practice and Administration:

The nurse administrators should see that the aspect of health promotion while providing nursing care. Nursing administration should implement the program should organize Continuing Nursing Education (conferences, workshop, seminar and education) on child labour and its consequences.

The Community Nurse Administrator should educate nurses working under them on various aspect of child labour such as problems of child labour, legal aspects, prevention, treatments and rehabilitation.

Implications for Nursing Research:

There is a need for more and in depth nursing research on child labour in order to provide evidenced based nursing care. People generally believe the child labour is effectively prevented by law but still it’s prevailing. Hence there is a need for comprehensive nursing research on child labour which helps in finding effective measures and solutions in the management of child labour.

Recommendations:

Based on the findings of the present study recommendations are offered for further researchers:

· The study can be replicated among school children and pre- university students.

· A comparative study can be conducted to assess the knowledge and attitude of rural and urban parents on child labour.

· A large scale study needs to be carried out to generalize the findings.

· A planned teaching program can be conducted to improve the knowledge of parents on child labour.

· A study can be conducted to assess the various health problems (physical, social and psychological) among child labour.

CONCLUSION:

The assessment of the parental knowledge on child labour revealed that, Majority of parents had moderately adequate knowledge on child labour, the parental attitude on child labour explains that, Majority of parents had positive attitude on child labour that is not to send their child for work and during of identification of common health problems among working children shows that, Majority of children had moderate health problems which needs some medical intervention.

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Received on 08.02.2013 Modified on 12.04.2013

Asian J. Nur. Edu. and Research 3(3): July-Sept., 2013; Page 142-149