Study of Effect of Work on Children’s Health in an Urban Area in Cairo

Abstract

his a cross sectional descriptive study with internal comparison was done In The Tenth District in Nasr City in Cairo, Egypt to describe the effect of child working on children health by assessing effect of work on childrens mental health. The children included in the study were 100 workers matched by 100 students (control). Working children sample from many jobs mechanic 52%, housekeeping 19%, Driver 16% and other jobs (13%). An interviewing questionnaire were filled and SPSS statistical package version 20 is used for analysis. A full physical examination was then conducted. Weight and height of the children were detected. There is a significant difference between the 2 groups regarding weight, height and Body Mass Index (p ˂0.001). The data shows the causes of not going to school by working children (61 % of total working sample), these causes include to learn job 86.9%, to earn money 85.2%, to help family at work 85.2 %, to help family at home 85.2%, unsecured school 75.4%, school is far 65.6%, financial issues 63.9 %, family refusal 62.2 %, dislike the school 65.6 %, the school is useless 45.6% and health problems 19.7 %. Seventy three percent of children were exposed to violence related to their work including Verbal 41%, Physical 29% and both verbal and physical 3%. Children who are exposed currently to violence are 54%. Children who left their