At Least, Three of Every Six Boys Involved in the Almajiri System of Northern Nigeria Die in the Child Begging Culture: The Urgent Need to Abolish the Almajiri System

Background: Children involved in the almajiri system of training are boys, exposed to harsh conditions and subjected to begging to fend for themselves, leaving them susceptible to violence, hunger, starvation, infections, child predators and to be used as elements of violence. This decreases their chances of surviving before they reach 16. Therefore, this study aims to determine the mortality ratio of Almajiri boys whilst identifying other maternal conditions associated with the boys’ mothers.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out on hausa/Fulani mothers of boys that was selected through a combined multistage sampling technique which involved a door-to-door primary collection of data using a questionnaire. Data about their boys who have been sent into the almajiri system were collected.

Result: The second phase of this study, which included 416 respondents was more compatible with the research objectives. These respondents with high prevalence of child marriage and multiple miscarriages had a child: mother ratio of 12:1 of which 98% of their sons are into the almajiri system. 50% of their sons die in the system, 33% are lost and only 17% are confirmed alive. Also, the children and Youth mortality rate associated with this system was about six times worse than the global average and four times worse than the Sub-Saharan average.

Conclusion: For every 6 boys sent away into the Almajiri system of seeking knowledge in Northern Nigeria, 3 die, 2 are lost and only 1 survives. Hence, the urgent need for rigorous family planning health promotion and the improvement of the socio-economic conditions of the Hausa and Fulani rural women in Northern Nigeria.