Analysis on the factors that influence child labor among children aged 14-17 in the Central Region of Uganda.

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to assess the factors that influence child labour among children aged 14-17 taking a case study of the central region of Uganda and come up with measures to stop or reduce child labour. The objectives of the study were; to examine the factors that influence child labour among children aged 14-17, To examine the relationship between demographic factors and child labour among children aged 14- 17, to examine the relationship between economic factors and child labour among children aged 14-17, to examine the relationship between social factors and child labour among children aged 14-17,to examine the relationship between natural factors and child labour among children aged 14-17. The study adopted a descriptive research design. The study used both qualitative and quantitative methods. The sample size used was 699 observations of children aged 14-17 in the central region. No data collection methods were used since the data used was secondary and it was collected from Uganda national household survey (UNHS) 2020 and it was analyzed using STATA V15.0 in frequency tables. The study revealed that child labour was mainly influenced by dropping out of school and house chores done by children and they are given by the parents. The most type of work that children did was household chores. Other types of work done by children was cultivating, sugarcane cutting, brick laying, collecting firewood , stone quarrying and the parents were responsible for assigning children with household work to do. The study concluded that guidance and counseling need to be strengthened for both children and parents to know the relevance of children attending school and the evils associated with child labour. A recommendation of setting strict laws by government was also made as parents that introduce children to child labour should be punished.