Nexus between Poverty and Child Labor: A Case Study in Narayanganj Area of Bangladesh Using Binary Logistic Regression

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to see how poverty influences child labor. To carry out the study, moderate poor people have been considered as respondents. Kalibazar and Langalband regions of Narayanganj district have been selected. Random sampling technique and Focused Group Discussion with children have been taken to conduct the study. Data has been collected from 50 Household Heads and 50 Children (male and female). For economic analysis, the Binary Logistic Regression model has been undertaken to see the relationship between poverty and child labor.  The analysis shows that the odds ratio indicates that drop-out children from school are 11.34 times more likely to go for taking the occupation of child labor due to poverty (major cause) than those children who have been dropped out due to other reasons (reference category). The study also shows that the families having no loan are 0.444 times less likely to go for child labor due to major causes (poverty) than that of the families having a loan. Moreover, the odds ratio corresponding to the children who use their income to help their families is 3.26. It means that the children who use their income for family purposes go 3.26 times more likely to take the occupation of child labor due to a major cause (poverty) than those children who do not use their income for family purposes. At the same time, the children who use their income for treatment purposes go 1.45 times more likely to take the occupation of child labor due to poverty (a major cause) than those children who do not use their income for treatment purposes.