Microsoft Word - AMICS-29Jan2013 - Childinfo.org

The presence of children s books is positively correlated with the child s age; in the homes
of 3% of children aged 24-59 months, there are three or more children s books, while the
figure is only slightly more than 0% for children aged 0-23 months. The presence of
children s books is positively correlated with the mother s education level: 11% of children
whose mother has attained secondary education or higher have three or more children s
books, while the figure drops to 2% for children whose mothers have no education. There
are notable variances found in the presence of children s books by region and by household
social-economic status.
Table 9.3 also shows that 53% of children aged 0-59 months had two or more play items to
play with in their homes. The play items surveyed in the AMICS included homemade toys
(such as dolls and cars, or other toys made at home), toys that came from a store, and
household objects (such as pots and bowls) or objects and materials found outside the
home (such as sticks, rocks, animal shells, or leaves).
It was found that 48% of children play with toys that come from a store; and the percentage
of homemade toys in the home is 61%. The proportion of children who have two or more
play items is 54% among male children and 52% among female children. Slight variances were
found between urban (56%) and rural (52%) populations; however, more pronounced
differences are found in terms of the mother s education level: 64% of children whose
mothers have attained secondary education or higher have two or more play items, while
the proportion is 52% for children whose mothers have no education. Differentials are also
observed by the socioeconomic status of households, and by regions. Almost 57% of
children living in the wealthiest households have two or more play items, while the figure is
49% for children living in the second poorest quintile. About 67% of children who are living
in the Eastern region have two or more play items compared with 28% of children who are
living in the Central Highlands region.
Care of Children
Leaving children alone or in the presence of other young children without adults present is
known to increase the risk of accidents to children. In the AMICS, two questions were
posed to respondents to find out whether children aged 0-59 months were left alone during
the week preceding the interview, and whether children were left in the care of other
children under 10 years of age.
Table 9.4: Inadequate care
Percentage of children under age 5 left alone or left in the care of another child younger than 10 years of age for more than one hour at
least once during the past week, Afghanistan, 2010-2011
Sex
Left alone in the
past week
Percentage of children under age 5
Left in the care of
another child younger
than 10 years of age in
the past week
Left with inadequate
care in the past week 1
Number of children under age 5
Male 32.1 35.0 41.5 7,653
Female 30.6 32.8 38.8 7,218
Region
Central 17.1 13.3 20.5 2,230
Central Highlands 36.2 37.8 46.6 517
East 26.3 26.9 33.4 1,667
106