NMICS 2010 Report - Central Bureau of Statistics

NMICS 2010, Mid- and Far Western RegionsOnly 45 percent of children from the poorest quintile played with two or more playthings comparedto 71 percent of children from the richest quintile.Leaving children aged less than five years alone or in the presence of other young children (aged lessthan 10 years) is known to increase the risk of accidents. In NMICS 2010, two questions were askedon whether children were left alone or in the care of other young children in the week preceding thesurvey. Table CD.4 shows that 51 percent of children aged less than five years were left withinadequate care in the past week, with 32 percent left alone and 42 percent left in the care of otheryoung children.Some 44 percent of children in the Mid-Western Region were left with inadequate care compared to59 percent in the Far Western Region. The highest percentage was in the Far Western Hills (66percent) and the lowest was in the Mid-Western Hills (41 percent). There was no gender difference.Children in urban areas (45 percent) were less likely to be left with inadequate care than those inrural areas (51 percent). Younger children were less likely than older children to be left withinadequate care: 36 percent of children aged 0–23 months compared to 59 percent of children aged24–59 months. Mother’s education level and the household’s wealth status influence the likelihoodof a child being left with inadequate care. Some 58 percent of children whose mother had noeducation were left with inadequate care compared to 45 percent of children whose mother hadprimary education and 37 percent of children whose mother had at least secondary education. Some57 percent of children from the poorest quintile were left with inadequate care compared to 37percent of children from the richest quintile.127