Health status of street children and reasons for being forced to live on the streets in Harar, Eastern Ethiopia. Using mixed methods

Abstract

Introduction In Ethiopia, more than four million children are anticipated to live under particularly difficult circumstances. Street children are subject to violence, a lack of health care, and a lack of education. Which denies them the right to live in a secure environment and exposes them to different health problems. Currently, little is known about the prevalence of Streetism, including health conditions. Therefore, this study was aimed to assess the health status of street children and determinants of Streetism. Methods Mixed methods (sequential) were employed from February 1 to 28, 2021. Quantitative cross-sectional study design and phenomenological qualitative designs were applied. Overall, 220 street children were involved in the study. The most common reason that forced the children to resort to a street way of life is to look for a job and quarreled with parents. The data were collected using interviews methods. Chi-square test and multiple binary logistic regression were applied to examine the variations among variables with the health status of street children. Qualitative data were analyzed using the thematic analysis technique. Results The study included a total of 220 street children. As to the quantitative study, the majority of study participants (92.73%) drank alcohol regularly. Depression (39.22%) and peer pressure (43.14%) were the most common initiation causes of drinking alcohol. According to a qualitative study report, "Street children are mostly affected by the communicable disease” and… They are addicted to substances like benzene” which had a profound effect on their health.” Furthermore, the study discovered a statistically significant association between respondents’ health status and sociodemographic characteristics (age and educational status), job presence, and drug use. Conclusion This study identified the factors that drove street children to live on the streets, such as the inability to find work and disagreements with their parents. The majority of the street children were affected by preventable and treatable diseases. Unfortunately, almost all street children reported drinking alcohol, which exposed them to a variety of health problems. In general, the study discovered that street children require immediate attention. Decision-makers and academicians should collaborate to develop a plan for these children’s health and social interventions.

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 ].…”

“…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 ]. Furthermore, they experience sexual abuse, violence, and risk behaviors that could increase the risk of sexually transmitted infections [ 5 , 6 , 11 , 32 ].…”

“…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 ]. Furthermore, they experience sexual abuse, violence, and risk behaviors that could increase the risk of sexually transmitted infections [ 5 , 6 , 11 , 32 ].…”

“…In Iran, most research about children and adolescents has focused on school, community, or clinical-based samples and rarely on vulnerable street children. On the other hand, it is now being observed that the number of street children is significantly increasing; however, there is scattered and contradictory information about street children in various parts of Iran, and little is known about the prevalence of the problem, including the factors that lead to being a street child and their health status [ 11 ]. In fact, despite measures and efforts to manage the issue and mitigate the effects of living and working on the streets among children, there still needs to be clear and accurate information about street children at the national level in Iran.…”

Experience of the Sexually Abused Street Children. A Case of One of the Cities in Tanzania

“…Furthermore, homosexuality and intergenerational sex are prevalent among street children (Alidost et al, 2021;Chikoko, Ruparanganda, Muzvidziwa, & Chimhowa-Chikoko, 2018;Chikoko, Ruparanganda, Muzvidziwa, & Chimhowa-Chikoko, 2019;Kayombo, 2020). As a result, infectious diseases (STIs and HIV) are prevalent among street children (Abate et al, 2022;Martin, 2018;Strashun et al, 2020). In terms of how they respond to the abuse, the majority of them reported that they did not take any action after being raped because they believe that reporting would have no effect on their experience with the situation (Kelly & Karsna, 2017).…”