Causes And Consequences Of Child Labor Abuse: In Abaya Woreda, Borena Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia.

Abstract

This research aimed at finding out causes and consequences of child labor abuse in the context of Abaya District of Borena, Ethiopia. The overall condition of child labor abuse in the area had inspired the researcher to examine the magnitude of child labor, to investigate the essence of such a practice, and to explore the impact of child labor on the psychological and social development of the children. Research participants were obtained on purposive basis. In order to undertake the study, the researcher employed qualitative research method with case-study and ethnographic approach. Naturalistic observation and focused group discussion techniques had also been used to collect data. The data was analyzed through narration and explanation. The result indicated that the magnitude of the case is widespread in the district. The study has found out that poverty of the family, large family size, parental unemployment, death of one or both parents, the need to become economically independent, violence within the home environment and the less awareness of child right among majority of children, parents, employer and other part of the community contribute to the majority of the child labor abuse in the district. The study also identified some effects of child labour on working children in terms of education, health, social and psychological impact. This paper draws conclusion that government, societies, and communities should cooperate in a better way with each other to decrease child labour .To reduce and prevent child labor, it is recommended that to take alleviation measures such as: poverty reduction, awareness creation, family support, fulfilling the basic needs of children, family planning and taking the appropriate measures on perpetrators are considered as essential measures.. Moreover, this study recommended doing a cohort and a larger size study, in order to further examine the problem in the study area and the country at large.