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Are Child Domestic Workers Worse Off than Their Peers? Comparing Children in Domestic Work, Child Marriage, and Kinship Care with Biological Children of Household Heads: Evidence from Zimbabwe

Author

Listed:
  • Ronald Musizvingoza

    (United Nations University International Institute for Global Health (UNU-IIGH), Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia)

  • Jonathan Blagbrough

    (Children Unite, London E9 7JR, UK)

  • Nicola Suyin Pocock

    (Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK)

Abstract

Child domestic work is a hidden form of child labour driven by poverty and social norms. However, little is known about the situations of child domestic workers. This study aims to describe and analyse gender-specific working conditions, health, and educational outcomes among hidden child domestic workers (CDWs) living in third-party homes relative to married children, biological children, and other children in kinship care. Data from the 2019 Zimbabwe Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) were analysed. Descriptive statistics and bivariable logistic regression were used to describe frequency and estimated prevalence. Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAGs) were used to identify exposures and inform the selection of covariates. Multivariable logistic regression models were fitted to estimate the effect of each exposure variable. The prevalence of CDWs was 1.5% and CDWs were mainly girls and living in much wealthier households with more educated household heads while married girls were living in much poorer households. When compared among girls themselves, being a CDW was significantly associated with having a functional disability, while married girls were more frequently engaged in hazardous working conditions. We provide the first intersectional analysis comparing work, violence, and health outcomes among CDWs, married children and other children. Child protection measures are needed to safeguard children in domestic work and marriages.

Suggested Citation

  • Ronald Musizvingoza & Jonathan Blagbrough & Nicola Suyin Pocock, 2022. "Are Child Domestic Workers Worse Off than Their Peers? Comparing Children in Domestic Work, Child Marriage, and Kinship Care with Biological Children of Household Heads: Evidence from Zimbabwe," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-18, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:12:p:7405-:d:840408
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Gil S. Epstein & Shirit Katav Herz, 2021. "Family Social Norms and Child Labor," Working Papers 2021-03, Bar-Ilan University, Department of Economics.
    2. Nicola S. Pocock & Clara W. Chan & Cathy Zimmerman, 2021. "Suitability of Measurement Tools for Assessing the Prevalence of Child Domestic Work: A Rapid Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-20, February.
    3. S. Lyon & C. A. Valdivia, 2010. "Towards the effective measurement of child domestic workers: building estimates using standard household survey instruments," UCW Working Paper 56, Understanding Children's Work (UCW Programme).
    4. Nicola S Pocock & Ligia Kiss & Sian Oram & Cathy Zimmerman, 2016. "Labour Trafficking among Men and Boys in the Greater Mekong Subregion: Exploitation, Violence, Occupational Health Risks and Injuries," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(12), pages 1-21, December.
    5. Sam, Victoria Nyarkoah, 2016. "The Poverty Hypothesis and Intergenerational Transmission of Child Labor: Evidence from Ghana," African Journal of Economic Review, African Journal of Economic Review, vol. 4(2), July.
    6. Nambusi Kyegombe & Nicola S. Pocock & Clara W. Chan & Jonathan Blagbrough & Cathy Zimmerman, 2021. "Evaluations of Interventions with Child Domestic Workers: A Rapid Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-13, September.
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