Characteristics Of Street Children In Cameroon: A Situational Analysis Of Demographic, Socio-Economic And Behavioural Profiles And Challenges

Abstract

IntroductionThe issue of street children is one of the global social problems rising in low- and middle-income countries. These children are vulnerable, but because of a lack of sufficient information, it is very difficult for stakeholders to address their plight in Cameroon.AimTo examine the situation and characteristics of street children in three Cameroonian cities.ObjectivesTo describe the demographic, socio-economic and behavioural profiles of street children. To identify challenges of street children and to compare the results from the three cities on account of their different settings, cultural history and challenges.Materials and methodsThe study was an analytical cross-sectional survey conducted through researcher-administered questionnaires to 399 street children (homeless for at least a month), in three Cameroonian cities from 1 January 2015 to 30 March 2015.ResultsThe majority of the participants were boys, more than 70% were homeless for less than 12 months and poverty was found to be the most common reason for being on the street. Most of the participants earned less than 500CFA francs (USD 0.85), with many of them resorting to begging, drug abuse, sex work and other risky behaviours. Only two of the respondents (0.5%) regarded the public attitude towards them as supportive.ConclusionAs children roam the streets in search of shelter, food and other basic needs, their future hangs in the balance. Understanding the plight of street children highlights the need for immediate design and implementation of intervention strategies to prevent children from living in the streets and assist those who have become street children.

Street Children in Iran: What Are Their Living and Working Conditions? Findings from a Survey in Six Major Cities

“…Furthermore, these reasons can vary depending on whether children are in industrial or developing countries [ 6 ]. Specifically, many global and local studies in countries, including India, Bangladesh, Namibia, Botswana, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, have identified poverty as the most common reason [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ], along with family problems and breakdown, parental deaths, social and cultural norms, displacement due to natural disasters and conflict, domestic violence, child neglect and abuse, inadequate education, legal systems, and peer pressure [ 5 , 8 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ].…”

“…One of the main discriminations is the lack of access to essential services and basic needs such as health care and education. Studies in different countries, including Indonesia, Bangladesh, Nepal, and several African countries, reveal that discrimination subjects street children to hunger, malnutrition, body pains, sickness, and exhaustion; furthermore, they are frequently exposed to injuries, burns, accidents, and polluted environments, and they also experience lower academic achievement [ 10 , 11 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 ]. In terms of mental health, evidence from Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Vietnam, South Africa, and India shows that street children experience poor mental health and face challenges such as high levels of stress, anti-social behavior, anxiety, aggression, and depression [ 6 , 11 , 21 , 26 , 27 , 28 ], and they consume drugs and alcohol [ 11 , 29 , 30 , 31 ].…”

“If they had a place to live, they would be taking medication”: a qualitative study identifying strategies for engaging street‐connected young people in the HIV prevention‐care continuum in Kenya

“…SCY, for whom the streets play a central role in their everyday lives and social identities [25], have a highly stigmatized identity that influences their ability to access and engage with the health system [26,27]. Many SCY in SSA may be inadequately or precariously housed or experience absolute homelessness [20,28,29], which has been identified as an independent risk factor for HIV acquisition and disease progression [30]. Moreover, SCY frequently experience profound levels of violence [31,32], including from authorities, and are often involved in the criminal justice system [29,[33][34][35].…”