Street Hawking Duration and Educational Outcomes Among Adolescents in Osun and Oyo States, South-West Nigeria: A Mixed Method Approach

Abstract

Street hawking among adolescent is a pressing issue that affects their educational outcomes. Previous studies have explored street hawking’s prevalence, causes, and consequences, there is limited research on how the duration of street hawking directly impacts academic performance, dropout rates, and future prospects for adolescents in southwestern Nigeria. This study, therefore, investigated the nexus between street hawking duration and educational outcomes among adolescents in Osun and Oyo States, south-west Nigeria using a mixed method approach. The study employed concurrent mixed method of a cross-sectional survey in nature, while three-hundred and ninety (390) sample were selected using both probability and non-probability sampling techniques from two (Osun and Oyo) south-west states Nigeria. A validated self-designed instrument with high reliability coefficient was used to obtained raw data from the respondents. Descriptive statistical tools were used to analysed the generated data. The study found a significant link between street hawking and poor educational outcomes among adolescents in Osun and Oyo States, Nigeria, with 78.5% of respondents reporting negative impacts on school performance, 66.4% not enrolled in school, and 60.8% having dropped out due to street hawking. The study also found that street hawkers prioritize financial support (64.9%) and counselling services (76.4%) over flexible school hours (39%) to pursue their education. The study concluded that street hawking negatively impacts adolescents’ education. Hence, community stakeholders should collaborate to create awareness about the negative impact of street hawking on education and promote strategies to enhance the overall well-being of street hawkers.