Child labor in Automobile workshops and its impact on child health in Peshawar, Pakistan

Abstract

Objectives:

 To determine prevalence of child labor and assess health problems in children working in automobile workshops in Peshawar.

Material and methods: It was a cross sectional descriptive study conducted in automobile workshops of Peshawar. Total 160 children working in automobile workshops were selected on non-probability convenience sampling technique from four zones of Peshawar, 40 from each zone. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data which was analyzed through SPSS version 22.

Results: In all four zones of Peshawar, of the total employees (667) of the automobile workshops 25. 8 % (172) were children under 14 years. Out of the total workshops, score on working environment was 4-5 in 44 %, 6-8 in 48 % while in 8 % children score was either below 3 or above 8.  Regarding health issues, by frequency 11.9 % each had headache and itching and 10 % had red eyes. 46.9 % had no complaints at all. Family persuasion (72 %) was the main reason for joining the workshops.

Conclusion: majority of the automobile workshops are violating labor rules and laws of the country as well as globally. Only workshops were providing facilities according to ILO standards. Poverty and illiteracy is main reason for high prevalence of child labor in Pakistan.