Implications of Family Planning on Child Labor: A Ghanaian Case Study

Authors

  • Leah Renee Singleton Florida State University
  • Taegan Dennis Florida State University

Keywords:

Human Rights, Child Labor, Family Planning

Abstract

 In the project “Implications of Family Planning on Child Labor: A Ghanaian case study,” undergraduate researchers Leah Singleton and Taegan Dennis explore how local stakeholders in Senya-Beraku, Ghana understand the role of family planning in reducing poverty and child labor within their community.

Researchers conducted twenty-two interviews in Ghana for this project in collaboration with a Ghanaian NGO, Patriots Ghana. Interviewers recruited local elite interviewees through snowball sampling. Interviews asked questions regarding perceived access to contraception and household decision-making on childhood education. All interviews were semi-structured and were conducted in Summer 2017 with translators provided by the host NGO.

Researchers transcribed all but one interview from recordings and crosschecked against handwritten notes before developing a coding matrix to run descriptive statistical analysis through SAS. Initial analysis suggests that 75% of respondents believe contraception is highly accessible in this village. However, 82% went on to say that community perceptions of contraception are mixed or negative. Further, 81% of respondents identify a relationship between large family and prevalence of child labor. In conclusion, this research delineates the necessity of further education on both family planning and child labor in Central Region, Ghana.

Author Biographies

Leah Renee Singleton, Florida State University

Leah Singleton is a second year student at Florida State University studying International Affairs and Religion. At FSU, Leah is a Presidential Scholar, Global Scholar, and Honors Legal Scholar. Her research interests include nonprofits and human rights.  In her free time, Leah enjoys traveling, reading, or playing board games.

Taegan Dennis, Florida State University

Taegan is seeking a dual degree in International Affairs, Spanish, and Anthropology and plans to attend graduate school to study the intersections of immigration, memory, and human rights. She currently serves on the board for Amnesty International at FSU and interns at the Center for the Advancement of Human Rights. 

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Published

2018-04-11

Issue

Vol. 8 No. 1 (2018)

Section

Research Articles

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