Abstract:Background: Globally, an estimated 17.2 million children aged 5 to 17 works as child domestic workers (CDWs), with nearly one-third (3.7 million) exposed to hazardous working conditions. Climate change is increasingly driving families from rural areas to cities in search of survival, where children, especially girls, often end up working as domestic workers in urban households to support their families. While some CDWs face severely abusive and exploitative situations, for others, domestic work may serve as a short-term poverty alleviation strategy. Objective: Examine the dimensions of working conditions and CDWs’ perceptions of how they affect their health and well-being. Methods: In 2023, we interviewed 33 former and current CDWs (aged 14-24) in Myanmar. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and translated from Burmese to English and analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Findings indicate that child domestic workers (CDWs) come from diverse backgrounds, yet many face significantly abusive employment or host household situations. CDWs with exploitative employers often endure serious physical and emotional abuse, as well as harmful working and living conditions, leading to poor overall well-being. Live-in CDWs, particularly those who have migrated from rural to urban areas, appear to suffer high levels of psychological harm. This is closely linked to their isolation from family and friends, and limited access to education. Despite these hardships, many cannot return home, as climate-related crises such as flooding, extreme heat, and unpredictable weather have destroyed livelihoods and made rural life unsustainable. Conclusion: A well-rounded response is needed to improve the working and living conditions of child domestic workers, addressing both immediate protection and long-term support. More research is crucial to uncover the full extent of physical and psychological harm they endure, especially in the context of climate-related displacement and urban vulnerability.
Keywords: Global Health Workforce, well-being, child domestic work, climate change, Myanmar
