Child Work in Agriculture

Acute and Chronic Health Hazards

Abstract

An estimated 173 million children are employed worldwide in agriculture. The rural nature of farm work exposes children to extreme climatic conditions, agrochemicals, physical hazards, animals and insects, parasites and infection. The additional risks of migrant accommodation and lifestyles for very young children make this form of employment among the three most hazardous. The health outcomes of child agricultural work in developing countries are under-researched. The majority of published studies focus on acute health outcomes in the U.S. While indicative of hazards, these are likely to underestimate the real risks faced by children in poorer parts of the world. The cross-sectional nature of health surveys means they cannot accurately infer causation and are particularly biased by the healthy worker effect. The long-term health consequences of pesticide exposure, repetitive physical tasks, and inhalation of dust and particles tend to be missed, resulting in an underestimation of chronic health problems such as cancer, asthma and musculoskeletal disorders.