Integrating Economic Strengthening and Family Coaching to Reduce Work-Related Health Hazards Among Children of Poor Households: Burkina Faso

Abstract Purpose This is the first randomized controlled trial in Burkina Faso testing the effect of economic strengthening alone and in combination with family coaching on child's hazardous work and work-related health outcomes. The study also tests the association between different forms of hazardous work and child's health outcomes. Methods A total of 360 households from 12 villages participated in the study. Villages were randomly assigned to three study arms: economic intervention alone, economic intervention integrated with family coaching, and control. In each household, one female caregiver and one child aged 10–15 years were interviewed. Data were collected at baseline, 12 months, and 24 months. We ran multilevel mixed-effects models that account for both within-individual correlation over time and clustering of subjects within villages. Results Compared with the control group, at 24 months, children in the integrated arm experienced significant reduction in exposure to hazardous work and some forms of hazards and abuse. Results for children in the economic strengthening–only arm were more modest. In most cases, child's health was significantly associated not with specific forms of work per se, but with child's exposure to hazards and abuse while doing this form of work. We found no significant effect of intervention on child's work-related health. Conclusions Economic strengthening combined with family coaching on child protection issues, rather than implemented alone, may be more effective in reducing child's exposure to hazardous work. Additional research is needed to understand gender differences and causal links between different forms of child work and health hazards.