PHYSICAL, PSYCHOSOCIAL HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG WORKING CHILDREN IN SMALL INDUSTRIAL SHOPS

Introduction: Child labor has been a major public health concern worldwide, being associated with adverse physical and mental health outcomes. Aim of Work: To assess the physical health and nutritional status of working children through specific physical examination and laboratory investigations, to study their psychosocial status and to clarify the association between child work and quality of life. Materials and Methods: Comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among (45) working children and (45) control group. All participants were personally interviewed at their workshops and were subjected to general questionnaire (sociodemographic, schooling, nutritional aspects and workplace characteristics), Instrument for Psychosocial Assessment of working children questionnaire, The Child Health Questionnaire for Quality of Life Assessment, physical examination and investigation (hemoglobin level). Results: The mean weight and hemoglobin level of working children were lower than that of control group in the younger age groups while the older the age group, the lower in mean length with statistically significant difference. The working children had lower mean scores than control group regarding stress, relationship, leisure, social factors, hopelessness and helplessness, abuse and maltreatment. The working children had lower mean scores than control group regarding general health perceptions, emotional functioning, behavioral functioning, family cohesion and schooling (p<0.001). The working children had lower mean total physical score and total psychosocial score than control group indicating lower quality of life with significant difference. Conclusion and Recommendations: Working children are subjected to higher levels of physical and mental stressors at work and child labor has negative impact on quality of life. Legislations should be implemented to protect them.