Individual, household, and community level factors of child labor in rural Ethiopia

Abstract

This study was aimed to develop the frameworks (cause effect relationship), which distinguish three levels of factors namely individual, household, and community level factors. Child labor was influenced by number of factors arise from child themselves, household, and community level impediments. The data were collected from nationally evocative household surveys that were conducted in 2004, 2011, and 2016 by central statistical agency from 35, 827 children living in rural Ethiopia. The data were analyzed via Logit model. The result indicates that child labor as a combined product of individual, household, and community factors. At individual level the gender of child and biological relationship to the children are significant determinants of child labor. Female child engaged more in child labor than male in rural Ethiopia. At the household level, resources such as (income, agricultural land, literacy of the head) and household size influence the child labor. Better income and literacy of the household head lower the likelihood of child to be engaged in child labor. With regard to community level factor availability of primary school reduces the likelihood of child to be engaged in child labor. Child has less likelihood to engage in child labor if there is primary education close to their residence. Therefore, the government monitoring, providing primary education and awareness creation would be appropriate in minimizing child labor in rural Ethiopia.