PREVALENCE, PATTERN, AND DETERMINANTS OF CHILDREN'S INVOLVEMENT IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES IN OKADA COMMUNITY, EDO STATE, NIGERIA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL ANALYTICAL STUDY

Background: Children's involvement in economic activities remains a major public health and social concern in many low- and middle-income countries, where poverty, limited educational opportunities, and socioeconomic inequalities continue to drive child labour. Evidence on its prevalence and determinants in many Nigerian communities remains limited. Objective: To determine the prevalence, pattern, and determinants of children's involvement in economic activities among caregivers in Okada Community, Edo State, Nigeria. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 380 caregivers selected using a two-stage cluster sampling technique. Data were collected using a pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire and analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 27. Descriptive statistics summarized the data, while Pearson's chi-square test and multivariable logistic regression identified factors associated with children's involvement in economic activities. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Results: Children's involvement in economic activities was reported by 249 (65.5%) households. Domestic work for others (37.1%) was the commonest activity, followed by street trading (21.8%), farming (20.8%), and hawking (20.8%). Most working children also attended school (88.8%), although 20.1% reportedly missed school because of work. Poverty (86.1%) was the leading perceived determinant, followed by the need to earn money for school fees (52.1%) and parental influence (51.1%). Higher educational attainment, higher household income, and good caregiver knowledge independently reduced the likelihood of children's involvement in economic activities, whereas older caregiver age, larger family size, being married, and Christian religion were associated with increased odds. Conclusion: Children's involvement in economic activities remains highly prevalent in Okada community and is largely driven by socioeconomic disadvantage. Interventions should prioritize poverty reduction, educational support, caregiver awareness, and strengthened enforcement of child protection policies to reduce child labour