Health Hazards among Children Labor in Car Repair Workshops in Rural Community

Abstract

Background: Child labor is the engagement of children in prohibited work and activities. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess health hazards among children labor in car repair workshops in rural community. Design: A descriptive design was used to conduct this study. Setting: This study was conducted at 86 car repair workshops in Beni-Suef city. Sample: A convenient sample of 208 children labor in the previously mentioned setting within consecutive six months. Tools: Two tools were used for data collection, first tool structured interviewing questionnaire divided into four parts, socio-demographic data of children and their family, health needs and problems of children labor in car repair workshops, knowledge of children regarding health hazards, and personal protective equipment and the exposure to health hazards among children labor in car repair workshops, second tool observational checklist to assess using of safety measures and environmental hazards in car repair workshops. Results: The mean age of children was 9.3 ±4.1 years, more than four fifth of children had unsatisfactory level of knowledge regarding health hazards and safety measures, most of them had poor practices during work, physical hazards represent nearly one third and nearly most of the studied workshops had inadequate environmental safety and sanitation. Conclusion: physical and chemical hazards were seen to be the most common health hazards of labor in car repair workshops among the studied children. Physical and psychological sides were seen to be the most common health needs and problems among the studied children. Also, there was a highly statistically significant correlation between occurrence of health hazards and environment of car repair workshops. Recommendations: Health education program to raise awareness of children toward health hazards in car repair workshops in rural community.