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Child labour and health: a systematic review

Author

Listed:
  • Brice Lionel Batomen Kuimi

    (McGill University)

  • Oduro Oppong-Nkrumah

    (McGill University
    Meredith Charles House)

  • Jay Kaufman

    (McGill University
    Meredith Charles House)

  • Jose Ignacio Nazif-Munoz

    (McGill University
    Meredith Charles House)

  • Arijit Nandi

    (McGill University
    Meredith Charles House)

Abstract

Objectives This study aimed to synthesise the available knowledge, identify unexplored areas and discuss general limits of the published evidence. We focused on outcomes commonly hypothesised to be affected by child labour: nutritional status, harmful exposures and injuries. Methods Four electronic databases (EMBASE, MEDLINE, Scopus, ISI Web of Science) were searched in November 2017. All articles published since 1996, without restrictions on language, were considered for inclusion. Results Out of the 1090 abstracts initially identified by the search, 78 articles were selected for inclusion and reviewed. Most of the studies were conducted in Asia and South America, and only a third of them compared working children to a control group of non-working children. Child labour appears to be associated with poor nutritional status, diseases due to harmful exposures, and a higher prevalence of injuries. Conclusions Despite evidence for a negative relation between child work and health, the cross-sectional design of most studies limits the causal interpretation of existing findings. More rigorous observational studies are needed to confirm and better quantify these associations.

Suggested Citation

  • Brice Lionel Batomen Kuimi & Oduro Oppong-Nkrumah & Jay Kaufman & Jose Ignacio Nazif-Munoz & Arijit Nandi, 2018. "Child labour and health: a systematic review," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 63(5), pages 663-672, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ijphth:v:63:y:2018:i:5:d:10.1007_s00038-018-1075-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s00038-018-1075-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Rima R Habib & Diana Mikati & Josleen Al-Barathie & Elio Abi Younes & Mohammed Jawad & Khalil El Asmar & Micheline Ziadee, 2021. "Work-related injuries among Syrian refugee child workers in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon: A gender-sensitive analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(9), pages 1-17, September.
    3. Amiya Bhatia & Maryam Parvez & Jodie Pearlman & Fred Kasalirwe & Ligia Kiss & Agnes Kyamulabi & Eddy J. Walakira & Karen Devries & Clare Tanton, 2022. "The Epidemiology of Young People’s Work and Experiences of Violence in Nine Countries: Evidence from the Violence against Children Surveys," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-19, December.
    4. Natasha B. Scott & Nicola S. Pocock, 2021. "The Health Impacts of Hazardous Chemical Exposures among Child Labourers in Low- and Middle-Income Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-34, May.
    5. Catherine Pellenq & Laurent Lima & Susan Gunn, 2022. "Education, Age and Gender: Critical Factors in Determining Interventions for Child Brick Workers in Pakistan and Afghanistan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-11, June.

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