The Assessment of Causes, Levels, and Psycho-Social Impacts of Street Life in Dessie

Abstract

The major purpose of the study was to assess the causes, prevalence, and psychosocial impact of street life in Dessie town in the case of Arada, Piyassa, and Menaharia. The study was conducted in Dessie Town, southern wollo zone of Amara. The data for the study were obtained through questionnaires, interviews, and observation. The data was collected from 70 samples of children live on the street. The researcher has used a Snowball sampling technique. The researcher was employed descriptive design. To analyze the data both qualitative and quantitative research approaches are used. The result of this study shows that strict parenting, quarrel, conflict with parents, work seeking, peer pressure, and mental problems are significant causes for street life. Also, the level of street life in Dessie town was highly increasing. When we see the psychosocial impacts of street life, school dropout, physical abuse, psychological disturbance (feeling of loneness, anxiety, and fear), social exclusion, alcoholism, smoking, chewing chat were the significant psychosocial impacts of street life in Dessie town. Finally, the researcher recommended the correct measures to be taken as well as applying for collaborative work with the government, with nongovernmental organizations and with the local community.