CHILD POVERTY MAPPING: TOWARDS EFFECTIVE CHILD POVERTY REDUCTION

Abstract

Poverty is not a respecter of gender nor age; it is a problem that affects male and female, and people of various age group alike. However, women and children are more susceptible to poverty compared adult. Poverty manifest in children in many forms; through lack of access to sanitation, education, health, water, food, and shelter among others. This study, therefore, seeks to analyse child poverty in Minna, using a multi-dimensional approach; with a view suggest possible ways of ameliorating child poverty menace in the study area. The study adopts the exploratory and descriptive research design which involves survey and observation. The study population is 54, 141 households within the 24 neighbourhoods of Minna, while the sample size is 386 households. The study area was delineated based on neighbourhood boundary, while households were randomly selected for sampling within each of the 24 neighbourhoods. A total of 321 questionnaires were returned completed, while the data was analysed using descriptive statistics and multidimensional poverty measurement approach developed by Alkire and Forster (2007). The study established

that

multidimensional child poverty headcount in Minna is 50.9%, while 28.7% only experience child poverty from a uni-dimension. The intensity of child poverty in Minna is moderate (0.52), while Minna does not experience child poverty (0.29). However, neighbourhoods level result shows that thirteen neighbourhoods experience medial child poverty while two neighbourhoods experience acute child poverty. The study concludes that child poverty dynamics varies across spatial units as can be seen at neighbourhood level. Hence, attention must be paid to the spatial disparities that exist within the city if child poverty must be drastically reduced. Therefore, the study concludes that a concerted effort must be put in place to enhance the adequate provision of necessities for sustainable development.