Amaç: Çocuk işçiliği, önemli bir halk sağlığı sorunudur. Bu araştırmada, çocuk işçiliği üzerine etkili olan faktörlerin saptanması, ayrıca çocuk işçilerin sağlık durumlarının belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır.Gereç ve Yöntem: Araştırma, tanımlayıcı olarak planlanmıştır. Örneklem; 71'i (% 20,0) Adana Toplumsal Destek merkezine kayıtlı çocuklardan, 279'u (% 80,0) bu çocukların arkadaşları, akrabaları ve iş arkadaşlarından olmak üzere 7-15 yaş arası toplam 350 çocuktan oluşmuştur. Çalışmanın veri toplaması Eylül 2007-Aralık 2008 tarihleri arasında yapılmıştır. Araştırmanın bağımlı değişkeni olarak çocuk işçiliği, bağımsız değişkenleri olarak; ailenin ve çocuğun sosyodemografik özellikleri, çocukların çalışma hayatlarıyla ilgili özellikler, sosyal aktiviteleri, eğitim süreçleri, fiziksel gelişim ve sağlıkla ilgili özellikleri alınmıştır. Anlamlılık p<0,05 `tir. Analiz için SPSS 11.5 ve Epi-Info programı kullanılmıştır,Bulgular: Çalışmamıza katılan çocukların % 28,6'sı tarım, % 28,6'sı mobilya, % 42,8'i sokak sektöründe çalışmaktadır. % 76,9'u erkek, % 23,1'i kız çocuğudur. Çocukların ailelerin % 37,7'sinin sosyal güvencesi yoktur. Babaların, annelere göre eğitim düzeyi daha yüksektir. Ailelerin % 54,2'sinin göç etme nedeni iş aramaktır. İlk işe başlama yaşı erkek çocuklarda ?5?, kız çocuklarda ?6? yaştır. Çocukların % 61,4'ü ailesine katkı sağlamak amacıyla işe başlamıştır. Çocukların % 48,3'ü istismara uğramıştır. Çocukların %49'4'ü gelirinin hepsini ailesine vermektedir. Çocukların % 61,4'ünün Vücut Kitle İndeksi zayıf grubundadır. Çocukların % 92,6'ünde hastalık saptanmıştır. En sık saptanan hastalıklar; diş çürüğü, cilt hastalıkları, üst solunum yolu enfeksiyonlarıdır.Sonuç: Çocuk işçiliği alınan önlemlere, uzun süredir verilen mücadeleye rağmen saptanan özellikleriyle aynen devam etmektedir. Çocuk işçiliği ile mücadele etmek konusunda günümüzde de hükümetlere, işçi ve işveren sendikalarına, sivil toplum örgütlerine, işverenlere ve toplumun her kesimine büyük görevler düşmekte, hatta giderek artmaktadır. Çocuk işçiliği konusunda daha radikal çözünler aranmalı ve sektörler arası işbirliği oluşturularak ortak bir duruş ve politik kararlılık sergilenmelidir.Anahtar sözcükler: Çocuk işçiliği, çocuk istismarı, çocuk sağlığıAmaç: Çocuk işçiliği, önemli bir halk sağlığı sorunudur. Bu araştırmada, çocuk işçiliği üzerine etkili olan faktörlerin saptanması, ayrıca çocuk işçilerin sağlık durumlarının belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır.Gereç ve Yöntem: Araştırma, tanımlayıcı olarak planlanmıştır. Örneklem; 71'i (% 20,0) Adana Toplumsal Destek merkezine kayıtlı çocuklardan, 279'u (% 80,0) bu çocukların arkadaşları, akrabaları ve iş arkadaşlarından olmak üzere 7-15 yaş arası toplam 350 çocuktan oluşmuştur. Çalışmanın veri toplaması Eylül 2007-Aralık 2008 tarihleri arasında yapılmıştır. Araştırmanın bağımlı değişkeni olarak çocuk işçiliği, bağımsız değişkenleri olarak; ailenin ve çocuğun sosyodemografik özellikleri, çocukların çalışma hayatlarıyla ilgili özellikler, sosyal aktiviteleri, eğitim süreçleri, fiziksel gelişim ve sağlıkla ilgili özellikleri alınmıştır. Anlamlılık p<0,05 `tir. Analiz için SPSS 11.5 ve Epi-Info programı kullanılmıştır,Bulgular: Çalışmamıza katılan çocukların % 28,6'sı tarım, % 28,6'sı mobilya, % 42,8'i sokak sektöründe çalışmaktadır. % 76,9'u erkek, % 23,1'i kız çocuğudur. Çocukların ailelerin % 37,7'sinin sosyal güvencesi yoktur. Babaların, annelere göre eğitim düzeyi daha yüksektir. Ailelerin % 54,2'sinin göç etme nedeni iş aramaktır. İlk işe başlama yaşı erkek çocuklarda ?5?, kız çocuklarda ?6? yaştır. Çocukların % 61,4'ü ailesine katkı sağlamak amacıyla işe başlamıştır. Çocukların % 48,3'ü istismara uğramıştır. Çocukların %49'4'ü gelirinin hepsini ailesine vermektedir. Çocukların % 61,4'ünün Vücut Kitle İndeksi zayıf grubundadır. Çocukların % 92,6'ünde hastalık saptanmıştır. En sık saptanan hastalıklar; diş çürüğü, cilt hastalıkları, üst solunum yolu enfeksiyonlarıdır.Sonuç: Çocuk işçiliği alınan önlemlere, uzun süredir verilen mücadeleye rağmen saptanan özellikleriyle aynen devam etmektedir. Çocuk işçiliği ile mücadele etmek konusunda günümüzde de hükümetlere, işçi ve işveren sendikalarına, sivil toplum örgütlerine, işverenlere ve toplumun her kesimine büyük görevler düşmekte, hatta giderek artmaktadır. Çocuk işçiliği konusunda daha radikal çözünler aranmalı ve sektörler arası işbirliği oluşturularak ortak bir duruş ve politik kararlılık sergilenmelidir.Anahtar sözcükler: Çocuk işçiliği, çocuk istismarı, çocuk sağlığı.

Aim: Child labour constitutes a serious public health problem. This study aims at determining the factors affecting the child labour and the health status of the working children as well.Material and Method: The study was planned to be a descriptive one. The sample included 350 children aged between 7 and 15 and 71 % (20,0%) of the sample were selected among the children recorded in the Adana Social Support Center, 279 (80,0 %) among the friends and colleagues of the above-mentioned children. Data collection under the study was performed between September 2007 and December 2008. Dependent variables of the study were socio-demographical features of the family and the child, working conditions of the children, their social activities, educational process, physical development and health status. Significance was p<0,05. SPSS 11.5 and Epi-Info program was used for the analysis.Findings: Out of the children, who participated to our study, 28,6 % were working in the agricultural sector, 28,6 % were working in the furniture sector, and 42,8 % were working in the street sector. 76.9% were male, while 23,1 % were female. 37,7 % of the children were from families who were not covered under any social security scheme. Education levels of their fathers were higher than those of the mothers. 54,2 % of the families migrated in search of employment. The date to start working was ?5? for boys and ?6? for girls. 61,4 % of the children started to work in order to contribute to the family budget. 48.3% were subject to abuse. 49,4 % of the children give all of their earnings to their family. 61,4 % of the children were from the group with poor Body Mass Index. 92,6 % of the children were diagnosed with a disease. The diseases most frequently encountered in this group of children were tooth decay, skin disorders, and upper respiratory diseases.Conclusion: Child labor continues despite the fight which has been given to it for a long time and the measures taken so far. Today, governments, employers/ employee unions, non-governmental organizations, employers and all sections of the society carry important responsibilities, at even an increasing level, in the fight against child labor. More radical solutions should be developed and cooperation should be established among sectors; and a common stance and political determination should be displayed for the solution of the problem.Key words: Child labour, child abuse, children?s health.Aim: Child labour constitutes a serious public health problem. This study aims at determining the factors affecting the child labour and the health status of the working children as well.Material and Method: The study was planned to be a descriptive one. The sample included 350 children aged between 7 and 15 and 71 % (20,0%) of the sample were selected among the children recorded in the Adana Social Support Center, 279 (80,0 %) among the friends and colleagues of the above-mentioned children. Data collection under the study was performed between September 2007 and December 2008. Dependent variables of the study were socio-demographical features of the family and the child, working conditions of the children, their social activities, educational process, physical development and health status. Significance was p<0,05. SPSS 11.5 and Epi-Info program was used for the analysis.Findings: Out of the children, who participated to our study, 28,6 % were working in the agricultural sector, 28,6 % were working in the furniture sector, and 42,8 % were working in the street sector. 76.9% were male, while 23,1 % were female. 37,7 % of the children were from families who were not covered under any social security scheme. Education levels of their fathers were higher than those of the mothers. 54,2 % of the families migrated in search of employment. The date to start working was ?5? for boys and ?6? for girls. 61,4 % of the children started to work in order to contribute to the family budget. 48.3% were subject to abuse. 49,4 % of the children give all of their earnings to their family. 61,4 % of the children were from the group with poor Body Mass Index. 92,6 % of the children were diagnosed with a disease. The diseases most frequently encountered in this group of children were tooth decay, skin disorders, and upper respiratory diseases.Conclusion: Child labor continues despite the fight which has been given to it for a long time and the measures taken so far. Today, governments, employers/ employee unions, non-governmental organizations, employers and all sections of the society carry important responsibilities, at even an increasing level, in the fight against child labor. More radical solutions should be developed and cooperation should be established among sectors; and a common stance and political determination should be displayed for the solution of the problem.Key words: Child labour, child abuse, children?s health.Aim: Child labour constitutes a serious public health problem. This study aims at determining the factors affecting the child labour and the health status of the working children as well.Material and Method: The study was planned to be a descriptive one. The sample included 350 children aged between 7 and 15 and 71 % (20,0%) of the sample were selected among the children recorded in the Adana Social Support Center, 279 (80,0 %) among the friends and colleagues of the above-mentioned children. Data collection under the study was performed between September 2007 and December 2008. Dependent variables of the study were socio-demographical features of the family and the child, working conditions of the children, their social activities, educational process, physical development and health status. Significance was p<0,05. SPSS 11.5 and Epi-Info program was used for the analysis.Findings: Out of the children, who participated to our study, 28,6 % were working in the agricultural sector, 28,6 % were working in the furniture sector, and 42,8 % were working in the street sector. 76.9% were male, while 23,1 % were female. 37,7 % of the children were from families who were not covered under any social security scheme. Education levels of their fathers were higher than those of the mothers. 54,2 % of the families migrated in search of employment. The date to start working was ?5? for boys and ?6? for girls. 61,4 % of the children started to work in order to contribute to the family budget. 48.3% were subject to abuse. 49,4 % of the children give all of their earnings to their family. 61,4 % of the children were from the group with poor Body Mass Index. 92,6 % of the children were diagnosed with a disease. The diseases most frequently encountered in this group of children were tooth decay, skin disorders, and upper respiratory diseases.Conclusion: Child labor continues despite the fight which has been given to it for a long time and the measures taken so far. Today, governments, employers/ employee unions, non-governmental organizations, employers and all sections of the society carry important responsibilities, at even an increasing level, in the fight against child labor. More radical solutions should be developed and cooperation should be established among sectors; and a common stance and political determination should be displayed for the solution of the problem.Key words: Child labour, child abuse, children?s health.Aim: Child labour constitutes a serious public health problem. This study aims at determining the factors affecting the child labour and the health status of the working children as well.Material and Method: The study was planned to be a descriptive one. The sample included 350 children aged between 7 and 15 and 71 % (20,0%) of the sample were selected among the children recorded in the Adana Social Support Center, 279 (80,0 %) among the friends and colleagues of the above-mentioned children. Data collection under the study was performed between September 2007 and December 2008. Dependent variables of the study were socio-demographical features of the family and the child, working conditions of the children, their social activities, educational process, physical development and health status. Significance was p<0,05. SPSS 11.5 and Epi-Info program was used for the analysis.Findings: Out of the children, who participated to our study, 28,6 % were working in the agricultural sector, 28,6 % were working in the furniture sector, and 42,8 % were working in the street sector. 76.9% were male, while 23,1 % were female. 37,7 % of the children were from families who were not covered under any social security scheme. Education levels of their fathers were higher than those of the mothers. 54,2 % of the families migrated in search of employment. The date to start working was ?5? for boys and ?6? for girls. 61,4 % of the children started to work in order to contribute to the family budget. 48.3% were subject to abuse. 49,4 % of the children give all of their earnings to their family. 61,4 % of the children were from the group with poor Body Mass Index. 92,6 % of the children were diagnosed with a disease. The diseases most frequently encountered in this group of children were tooth decay, skin disorders, and upper respiratory diseases.Conclusion: Child labor continues despite the fight which has been given to it for a long time and the measures taken so far. Today, governments, employers/ employee unions, non-governmental organizations, employers and all sections of the society carry important responsibilities, at even an increasing level, in the fight against child labor. More radical solutions should be developed and cooperation should be established among sectors; and a common stance and political determination should be displayed for the solution of the problem.Key words: Child labour, child abuse, children?s health.