Table 1 Comparison of selected socio-demographic characteristics of Almajiris and the public school pupils
Variable | Almajiris N = 213 (%) | Public school pupils N = 200 (%) | χ2 | p value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Age in 5Â year categories | ||||
 5–9 | 29 (13.6) | 68 (34.0) | 74.48 | <0.001 |
 10–14 | 86 (40.4) | 112 (56.0) | ||
 15–19 | 63 (29.6) | 19 (9.5) | ||
 Don’t know | 35 (16.4) | 1 (0.5) | ||
Family type | ||||
 Monogamous | 61 (28.8) | 82 (41.2) | 6.99 | 0.008 |
 Polygamous | 151 (71.2) | 117 (58.8) | ||
Marital status of parents | ||||
 Living together | 189 (89.6) | 172 (86.4) | 1.06 | 0.589 |
 Divorced/separated | 8 (3.8) | 11 (5.5) | ||
 Parent(s) deceased | 14 (6.6) | 16 (8.0) | ||
Father’s children | ||||
 1–4 | 28 (13.1) | 22 (11.1) | 0.50 | 0.779 |
 5–9 | 106 (49.8) | 104 (52.3) | ||
 10+ | 79 (37.1) | 73 (36.7) | ||
Mother’s children | ||||
 1–4 | 57 (26.8) | 35 (17.6) | 5.12 | 0.077 |
 5–9 | 126 (59.2) | 135 (67.8) | ||
 10+ | 30 (14.1) | 29 (14.6) | ||
Father’s level of education | ||||
 No formal education | 32 (15.1) | 10 (5.1) | 101 | <0.001 |
 Quranic school | 147 (69.3) | 62 (31.3) | ||
 Primary school | 16 (7.5) | 47 (23.7) | ||
 Secondary and higher | 17 (8.0) | 79 (39.9) | ||
Mother’s level of education | ||||
 None | 44 (20.8) | 24 (12.1) | 88.63 | <0.001 |
 Quranic school | 153 (72.2) | 79 (39.7) | ||
 Primary | 9 (4.2) | 46 (23.1) | ||
 Secondary and higher | 6 (2.8) | 50 (23.1) |  |  |