Non-material deprivation Child Poverty and Disparities
63
Figure 2.9: Frequency of children meeting with both parents, 2000 and 2007
100 90
80 70
60 50
40 30
20 10
2000 2000
2007 2007
Urban Rural
Never Annually
Monthly Weekly
Daily
21.2 19.0
26.8 22.8
29.3 28.0
23.6 31.9
23.8 21.7
24.4 23.7
16.3 19.9
13.7 13.9
9.4 11.4
11.5 7.5
Source:EstimatedusingdatafromIFLS3andIFLS4
Figure 2.10: Child marriage, pregnancy and childbirth among the population aged 10–24 years, 2010
of each age group
Married - Male 0.1
1.6 20.5
0.2 11.7
26.2 7.4
15.8 10.7
16 46
66.5
10-14 years old 15-19 years old
20-24 years old Married - Female
Pregnant at the survey Gave birth during the
last 5 years 70
60 50
40 30
20 10
Source:RISKESDAS2010,citedinAtmarita,2012
64
Table 2.10: Child marriage and correlates, 2009
Total incidence
Individual dimension
Age
Age group 1 15–20 Age group 2 21–25
Age group 3 26–30 Age group 4 31–40
Age group 5 41+
Household dimension
Household size
Less than 3 3–4 members
5–6 members 7+
Women’s education
None Primary
Secondary+
Gender of the head of the household
Male Female
Wealth index quintiles
Q1 poorest Q2
Q3 Q4
Q5
Work not mutually exclusive categories
Both parents working None of the parents working
No adult in primary working age 18–54 years At least one child under age 15 working
Illness and disability in the household
Childchildren with disability
Family vulnerability
Single parent High dependency ratio 4+ children per adult
Elder age 70+ person in household
Residence
Urban Rural
Source:Estimatedusingdatafrom2009SUSENAS
Evidence from the qualitative study
14
Qualitative case study evidence from North Jakarta and East Sumba
15
can provide deeper insights into how children experience
deprivation. Table 2.10 presents examples of non-material deprivation described by children
during focus group discussions with children
Women aged 15–49 married before age 15
0.86 0.29
0.75 1.3
1.9 1.28
1 0.9
0.82 0.75
1.68 1.78
1.74
1.74 1.19
1.06 0.87
0.66 0.47
0.91 0.9
0.01 1.72
na 1.07
0.8 0.48
0.55 1.15
Women aged 15–49 married before age 18
5.91 3.79
7.56 10.52
13.34 6.91
5.36 6.55
5.61 4.99
11.43 12.23
11.99
9.32 7.48
7.07 6.35
5.12 3.12
6.33 6.09
0.08 7.66
na 7.23
5.27 3.37
4.06 7.63
14 The qualitative study was conducted only in two precincts in North Jakarta and two villages in East Sumba. It is not meant to provide nationally repre- sentative evidence, but only a snapshot of non-material deprivation from the children’s perspectives refer to Appendices I and II.
15 A series of discussions and interviews with children and families in the case study locations were arranged in order to identify and describe non-materi- al deprivation experienced by children from their own perspective, both in urban and rural settings. Although the small qualitative study is not nationally
representative, this will serve as an initial assessment of the non-material deprivation facing children and the factors contributing to it.
65
Table 2.11: Problems and situations that contribute to a sense of deprivation in children
Age group
Primary school aged children
SD
Junior secondary school aged
children SMP
Senior secondary school aged
children SMA
Urban
Material:
• Rainyseasonandrob flooding because of seawater high tide
• Dryseasonlackofwater • Electricitypoweroutagesfearofdark
Non-material:
• Dificultiesinlearningmaths,socialstudies, Indonesian Bahasa Indonesia and English languages
Material:
• Parentsdon’tgivemoney • Havebeenmuggedbystreetcriminals
• Parents’inancialproblems
Non-material:
• Problemswithteachersateachergotangry, punishments, teaching method too textbook based
• Problemswithparentsparentsgotangryiftheyplay too much
• Problemswithfriendsighting,slanderedbyafriend, no solidarity
• Problemswithsiblingsightingwitheachother • Havetobabysityoungersibling
• Siblingsteasedbyotherpeople • EvictionbysecurityoficersSatpolPPwhoarenot
friendly to street children singing beggars, etc. • Sexualharassmentbystepfather
• Feelingtiredafterschoolbutstillbeingforcedtostudy again
• Heartbrokenbreakupwithboygirlfriend,rejected • Seniorityinschool
Material:
• Unemployedfather • Flooding
• Drugs • Theftintheneighbourhood
• Havebeenmuggedbystreetcriminals
Non-material:
• Amarriedsiblingstilllivesatparents’househouse too crowded
• Problemswithboygirlfriend • Problemswithparents
• Missingmotherwholivesapartfromthem • Prohibitedfromplayingatfriend’shome
• Promiscuity • Pregnantoutsideofmarriage
• Brawlmassighting • Unemploymentamongteenagers
• Toomuchplayingwithfriends • Domesticviolence
• Thebossgotangry • EvictionbysecurityoficersSatpolPPwhoarenot
friendly to street children singing beggars, etc.
Rural
Material:
• Havetoightwithclassmatestogetaseat • Havetododomesticchorescollectwater
from well, etc.
Non-material:
• Fightingwithfriends • Problemswithteachersmeanteacher,
being asked to pluck teacher’s grey hairs • Dificultiesinlearningmaths
• ToomuchwritinginIndonesianlanguage Bahasa lessons
Material:
• Chairsatschoolbroken • Waternotclean
• Mosquitoesbecauseoftheunclean environment
• Toothache • Frequentabdominalpain,headachesand
malaria • Teacherswhodonotattendschool
• Parents’inancialproblems • Inadequatefoodintakelessnutrients,no
breakfast, parents do not provide pocket money
Non-material:
• Theftatschool • Dificultiesinschoollessons
• Problemswithfriendsdisturbedby friends
Material:
• Nosecondaryschoolnearby,inthesub- district
• Inadequatecomputerfacilitiesatschool; unable to practice the lesson
• Inadequatehealthfacilitiesinadequate medicine supply at community health
centre • Ambulancetooexpensive
• Environmentendemicmalaria • Peopleusuallyputanimalcagesnearthe
houses • Dryseasonfaminehungryseason
• Familyinancialproblems • Toofartoschool
• Liveinremotelocation
Non-material:
• Dificultiesinmathslesson • Teachertoostrict
• Familyproblems • Nofamilyrelativeslivenearschool
• Lazinessofpeople
Source:Focusgroupdiscussionswithchildrenaged7–18yearsinNorthJakartaandEastSumba
66 aged 7–18 years about common problems and
situations that make them feel deprived in some aspects of their lives. Most of the poor children
who participated perceived that non-material deprivation originated from the poor services
and unfair treatment they received from their parents, peers, teachers and communities, and
due to the limited availability of public facilities.
In the surveyed areas, rural poor children experience more material deprivations than
urban poor children due to inadequate basic facilities e.g., schools and health facilities
and remote location. Even so, it is important to note that some of the non-material deprivation
is generated from material deprivation. For example, the lack of secondary schools in a
village will make it difficult for children to attain a higher education. Some families who have
relatives living in the city or in other villages closer to schools may have the option of sending
their children to live with these relatives during the school term. But this is not an option for
those who do not have any relatives living near a school or for those who do not have the
financial resources needed to send their children to school. Not attending school makes children
feel unhappy. The other material problems faced by children in rural areas include inadequate
health facilities, limited access to clean water and unclean environments.
In both East Sumba and North Jakarta the prominent non-material deprivations faced
by poor children were related to inadequate leisure time and their vulnerability to violent
acts by parents, elder siblings, teachers or other community members. In terms of inadequate
leisure time, most children in East Sumba said that they were heavily engaged in domestic
chores after school including cooking, washing, taking care of their younger siblings, looking for
grass to feed livestock, and working on farms, as expressed in the following quotes from study
participants:
“Masih jalan jauh dari sekolah. Panas lagi, jadi saya kurang bahagia.” School is far to walk from home.
It’s hot also, so I’m not happy. “Tidak tidur siang; kerja banyak.” No time to take a
midday nap; too much work. “Terlalu banyak kerja di rumah; cape” Too much
work at home; I am exhausted “Senang kalo tidak disuruh kerja.” I am pleased if I
am not told to work. “Senang kalo bisa bermain.” I am happy if I have
time to play. “Saya tidak suka timba air karena jauh dan berat.” I
don’t like collecting water because it is far away and too heavy.”
“Mama sering sakit jadi saya cape, kerja sendiri.” My mom often gets sick and I am tired because I have
to handle all the work at home. “Tumbuk padi bikin cape dan tangan melepuh.”
Grinding rice makes me tired and my hand gets blistered.
“Saya tidak suka cabut rumput di kebun, banyak duri.” I don’t like working in the ield collecting grass; there
are many thorns. “Senang kalau liburan.” I am happy if there is a
holiday. “Senang kalo libur dan tinggal di rumah nenek, karena
kerja sedikit.” I am happy if I have holidays and can stay at my grandmother’s house because there is less
work to do. “Sedih.Jauh dr nene.Nene suka manja.” I am sad. I
live far from my grandmother. She likes to spoil me. “Saya pingin mendapat kasih sayang dari orangtua.”
I wish I could get love and affection from my parents. “Saya kurang bahagia karena jauh dari orang tua.” I
am not happy because I am far away from my parents.
Meanwhile, in North Jakarta, some children had to engage in paid work and had less leisure time
to spend with their friends. Some children felt happy when it was raining, because they would
have time to play instead of shucking mussels. Children working in the street as singing
beggars, scavengers, or bajilo, were unhappy when they were victims of violence by security
officers or gangsters. Many children mentioned having to obey their parents or elder siblings and
said they feared severe physical punishment, such as being beaten. Some of the children said
that they preferred to spend holidays with other relatives because they had fewer household
chores to do there. The following are selected direct quotes from children regarding these
situations:
”Saya tidak suka jaga adik; adik rewel, dan ibu pergi dagang.” I don’t like taking care of my younger
sibling; she is dificult when my mother leaves the house to go selling.
67 “Kalau hanya nyuci baju sendiri ngga apa-apa.Tapi
jangan disuruh nyuci baju semua anggota keluarga. Jadi bisa nonton TV lebih lama.” Washing my own
clothes is ine. But don’t tell me to wash the clothes of the whole family. I can spend more time watching TV.
“Senang kalo ngga dikasih tugas jagain adik yang masih kecil. Maunya adik cepet besar.” I would be
happy not to have to take care of my younger sibling. I hope he grows up quickly.
“Cukup dinasehatin aja.Jangan pake marah-marah.” It’s enough for parents togive us advice. They
shouldn’t get angry and use harsh words. “Saya pingin membantu keluarga tanpa percecokan.”
I wish I could help my family without having arguments.
“Saya pingin bisa rekreasi di tempat wisata, jalan- jalan ke Ancol” I wish I could have recreation time at
some tourist attractions, like going to Ancol “Saya senang kalo liburan Lebaran; kumpul-kumpul
dan main-main dengan teman-teman, pergi ke keluarga.” I am happy during the Lebaran holiday;
we get together and play with friends, and visit my extended family.
“Saya senang kalo hujan, karena tidak ikut bekerja mengupas kerang dan bisa bermain.” I am happy on
rainy days because I do not have to work shucking mussels and I can play with friends.
“Gitar saya pernah dipecahkan oleh Satpol PP gara- gara ngamen.” My guitar was once destroyed by the
security oficer because I was busking for money in the streets.
“Sering dipalak sama premen; dipukul atau ditelanjangin kalo tidak dikasih uang.” We often get
mugged by the gangsters; they hit us and strip our clothes off if we don’t give them money.
In East Sumba, apart from the daily chores at school, like washing and sweeping the
classrooms and toilets, students were upset to be given additional chores such as providing leg
massage services to male teachers or pulling out teachers’ grey hairs during school breaks.
Some lessons, such as mathematics and English, tended to make them feel dispirited due to the
difficulty of mastering these subjects. On the other hand, some children living in dormitories
or with relatives close to their schools were unhappy due to being far away from their
parents. The following are examples of direct comments about their school situations obtained
from children during FGDs in East Sumba: “Pelajaran matematika susah, guru galak.”
Mathematics is hard, the teacher is mean. “Malas ke sekolah; takut guru.” I’m reluctant to go to
school; I’m scared of the teacher. “Pingin dapat rangking tapi tidak pernah.” I wish I
could be a top student at school, but it never happens. “Pada jam istirahat, beberapa anak laki-laki diminta
pijit kaki guru dan lainnya mencari rambut uban.” During the break time at school, some of us boys have
to give leg massages to the teacher and others have to pull out his grey hairs.
“Saya pingin dapat nilai bagus dan membuat orangtua senang.” I wish I could get good grades and make my
parents happy. “Saya tidak suka pelajaran PPKN karena tulis terus.”
I don’t like PPKN - Pancasila and citizenship lessons - because we have to write constantly.
Similarly, in North Jakarta, some children were unhappy and frustrated with teachers who
punished them for not doing homework, not bringing their text books, or chatting during
lesson time. Some children complained about being mugged by adults on the way to school,
particularly when passing through unsafe areas. They had to pay IDR500–1,000 or all the money
in their pockets. The following are examples of direct quotes on the situation in schools in North
Jakarta:
“Bisa membanggakan orang tua dengan mendapat nilai bagus di sekolah.” [I wish] I could make my
parents proud of me by getting good grades at school. “Dapat penghargaan kalau lomba atau dapat
beasiswa.” [I wish] I could win a prize in a competition or obtain a scholarship.
“Lulus sekolah.”
[I wish] I could pass the inal exam. “Mendapat nilai bagus.” [I wish] I could obtain good
grades. “Kadang bete sama pelajarannya.” I am sometimes
frustrated with the lessons. “Kadang gurunya galak.” The teachers are sometimes
mean to us.
Most of the unpleasant feelings experienced by children are similar in both urban and
rural areas. As described in Box 2.3, the list of daily activities that they do not like illustrates
that many of the daily tasks, including those at home, school, and for religious activities,
might be taking up too much of their time and overburdening them. Poor children from these
68 areas may have little variation in their daily
routine and this monotonous pattern eventually makes them dislike these activities.
Children’s feelings of happiness and discontent also vary across seasons and events. Their
feelings change as a result of the experiences they have had during each season. For
children living in an urban environment, an unhappy feeling is often experienced during
the season is caused by an environmental threat. Environmental degradation along with
poor living conditions affects children in the form of skin disease, and reduced income – for
children working shucking mussel shells in the wet season, and lack of water supply in
the dry season. Even so, children can often still derive enjoyment out of the disruption.
For example, even though water had flooded
Box2.3:Dailyactivitiesthechildren do not like
Urban
• Takinganap • Goingtoschoolfor
school children • Takingasiblingto
school • Schoolcleaning
chores • Prayingrituals
• Babysittingyounger siblings
• Domesticchores e.g.,house
cleaning • Studying
Rural
• Havingtoprovide servicestoteachers
e.g.,pluckingthe teacher’sgreyhair,
massage
• Walkalongdistance to school
• Schoolcleaning chores cleaning the
toilet • Prayingrituals
• Domesticchores e.g.,mopping,
draw water from well,cooking,
farming,wood gathering,mashing
rice
• Studying
their neighbourhood in the wet season, they could still play and have an adventure making
rafts, providing them with a recreation outlet, making them feel happy. For children living in
rural areas, those who were obligated to help their parents in the fields during the wet and dry
seasons were unhappy – some were temporarily withdrawn from school to help on the farm.
Working on the farm sometimes makes them happy, especially during fruit harvest season,
because then they can eat a lot of fruit and make money from selling it. In general, children in
both urban and rural areas feel happy when the holidays come. Table 2.11 summarizes children’s
feelings about various events in their daily lives.
The secondary school-aged children, both girls and boys, consider both material and non-
material dimensions important for their well- being. Being recognized for their achievements,
being loved and having good relations with their parents and extended family were all identified
as being important aspects of non-material well-being. The results of the discussions with
children aged 15–18 years are presented in Figures 2.11and 2.12, showing that the non-
material components of well-being were more varied than the material components. Among
the non-material components, affection from parents and good relations with their extended
families were quite dominant, both for boys and girls who participated in the case study villages
and urban precincts. In addition, achievements in and outside of school – and recognition for
these achievements – also contributed to their non-material well-being. As poor children in rural
areas experience more material problems than those in urban areas, having new possessions,
like clothes, a bicycle, a mobile phone and stationery items, contributed to their sense of
well-being. On the other hand, well-being for children in urban areas is not merely about
getting something but also being able to give something to other people. As revealed in a
discussion with secondary school-aged girls in the sample area in North Jakarta, to give a gift or
surprise to someone, and to have enough money for their parents and siblings are both contribute
to a sense of well-being for them.
69
Table 2.12: Events during the year that affect children, and their feelings about the events
Urban Wet season
Unhappy because of flooding
Independence Day celebration
Enthusiastic to participate in Independence Day competitions
Prophet’s birthday
Religious holiday
Weekend
Happy because of free time
West monsoon
Can only shuck 1–2 sacks of shellfish in 3 days, and receive less money
Can play getek self-made raft Girls usually help their parents clean the water that enters
the house Get skin diseases itchy
Flood sea water at high tide and theft
School holidays
Happy, going on picnics
Marine festival
Happy; lots of food, playing in the water, sailing to islands Sometimes feel afraid if there are boat accidents
Dry season
Unhappy, because of limited water supplies; have to buy water from water sellers
Happy because they can play in the field nearby, which is usually a water pond
Fasting month
Happy and busy with a lot of religious activities
New Year
Playing with firecrackers
Wedding season
Help to wash dishes at wedding venues, get money
Election of community leaders
Just watching many people gathering
Rural Wet season
Remove grass in preparation for planting corn Fix the fence planting timber for fencing
Afraid of snakes
Harvest season
Helping parents on the farm
Hungry season
No rice
Dry season
Gathering sweet roots in the weeds
School holiday
Go home and see parents
Traditional ceremonies
Watching so many people gathering
Planting season
Sometimes cannot go to school as they must help their parents on the farm
Fruit harvest season
Eating a lot of fruit, making money from selling the fruit
Source:CasestudiesinNorthJakartaandEastSumba,June–August2010
70
Figure 2.11: Children’s sources of well-being material and non-material revealed during FGDs with secondary school-aged boys in urban and rural areas
Urban Rural
Material Material
Non-Material Non-Material
Receiving money from mother pocket money
Getting new clothes Being a winner in
Independence Day events
Getting high grades and being a top student
Receiving a gift stationery
Getting a new bicycle Recreation or going on a
picnic to the beach, zoo, visit relatives
Going to school being a student
Religious holidays receiving money and
new clothes Getting a scholarship
Getting high grades at school
Religious holidays a lot of treats, family
gathering Receiving love and
affection from parents Being a top student
Making parents proud Visiting their hometown
mudik Receiving an award from
the teacher an academic certificate
Birthday Birthday party events
dancing Receiving a surprise on
their birthday Getting new shoes
Playing with friends Receiving love and
affection from parents
71
Urban Rural
Material Material
Non-Material Non-Material
Receiving a gift Getting new stationery
Being a useful person in the future and helpful to
other people Parents being home
Getting a new mobile phone
Getting new clothes Meeting with relatives in
hometown Being with parents
Wanting to have a lot of money for her parents
and siblings Getting a bicycle
Making parents happy Not obligated to do
domestic chores
Drawing scenery especially the
mountains
Seeing my grandmother smiling
Recreationgoing on a picnic with family
Making everyone happy Gathering with family
rarely meet each other because of need to make
money Receiving affection
from parents sad when the parents give more
affection to younger siblings
Making parents proud Giving giftssurprises to
someone Able to read the Holy
Quran Playing
Being treated by someone
Getting a mobile phone Living in peace and
happiness with friends and family
Passing to the next grade at school
Figure 2.12: Children’s sources of well-being material and non-material revealed during FGDs with secondary school-aged girls in urban and rural areas
73
CHAPTER 3
Health and nutrition