Child Labor and Illegal Chemical Pesticide Use in Jalal-Abad, Kyrgyzstan: A List Experiment via Phone Survey

Abstract

In rural Kyrgyzstan, it is common for children to help their parents on family farms, a practice often viewed as a way to learn essential life skills. However, concerns are growing over the health risks associated with exposure to chemical pesticides especially illegal ones. Previous studies have mostly used surveys that directly asked respondents about sensitive issues such as child labor and illegal chemical pesticide use, which likely resulted in underreporting because respondents may have been uncomfortable or afraid to answer honestly. To address this, we conducted a phone-based list experiment with farming households in Jalal-Abad, Kyrgyzstan, to obtain more accurate estimates. Results showed that the prevalence of illegal chemical pesticide use was 41.1% according to the list experiment, but only 13.9% by direct questioning—a statistically significant difference of 27.2 percentage points (p = 0.017), indicating substantial underreporting in direct responses. For child labor, the list experiment estimated 29.6%, while direct questioning yielded 46.5%; however, this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.10). This likely reflects the fact that child labor is traditionally not regarded as a sensitive issue in this context and is seen as a normal part of rural family life. The high rate of illegal chemical pesticide use, on the other hand, may be related to recent government policy shifts—such as a reduced emphasis on eco-friendly agriculture, and land redistribution programs—which may have decreased farmers’ incentives to comply with environmental regulations. These findings highlight the need for both improved measurement methods and more effective policies to protect children from the risks of illegal chemical pesticide use in rural agricultural communities.