Ijadunola M.Y., Ojo T.O., Babatunde A., Olatunji G.J., Owolabi G.K., Adewale I.A., Ifedayo I.F., Friday I.S.
FWACP, Department of Community Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, P.O. Box 2064, Ile-Ife Osun State, Nigeria; Department of Community Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Department of Community Health, Obafem
Ijadunola, M.Y., FWACP, Department of Community Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, P.O. Box 2064, Ile-Ife Osun State, Nigeria; Ojo, T.O., Department of Community Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Babatunde, A., Department of Community Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Olatunji, G.J., Department of Community Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Owolabi, G.K., Department of Community Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Adewale, I.A., Department of Community Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Ifedayo, I.F., Department of Community Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; Friday, I.S., Department of Community Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
Street hawking is the commonest form of child labor in Nigeria. Although street hawking is very pervasive, there is the increasing need to fully understand its pattern and effects on those involved in hawking particularly adolescents who combine schooling with hawking. In Nigeria, data on the effects of street hawking on in-school adolescents are generally scanty. Therefore, the present study was undertaken in Ife Central Local Government Area (LGA) of Osun State, Nigeria to assess the pattern, determinants of street hawking among in-school adolescents and its effect on school performance. A cross-sectional study of 435 adolescents (aged 10-19) attending public secondary schools was done. Data were collected using facilitated self-administered questionnaires alongside a review of class records. Appropriate statistical analysis including multiple regression was done. Results showed mean age of respondents to be 14.6±2.1 years with prevalence of street hawking at 37.2%. Early adolescents (10-13 years) were more likely to engage in street hawking compared to their counterparts in late adolescence (aged 17-19). Female adolescents and students of trading mothers were significantly more likely to engage in street hawking. Respondents engaged in street hawking were significantly more likely to have failed the last academic term examination. The findings from this study will be useful for stakeholders as they develop policies and programmes to address the challenge of street hawking among adolescent school goers. © 2015 by De Gruyter.