Health and Social Problems of Street Children in Nazareth Town
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Date
1995-05
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The exact number of street children in any given
country is not known. To determine the number, health,
and social problems of the street children, a cross
sectional survey was conducted in Nazareth town, south
eastern Ethiopia, from November to December 1994.
Accordingly 5138 street children were counted during a
one day census , by means of a systematic sampling. 597
subjects were selected into the study, 526(88.1%) Males
and 71(11.9%) Females. The age ranged from 5 to 18 with
mean age of 12.9 and SD of 3. 16. (41.2%) of the children
left their families when they were 10-14 years old, and
30 . 7% were separated in early childhood (0-4 years).
Onl y (1 8 . 3%) were attending school currently, (54.6%)
were children "on" the street and t he rest (45 . 4%) were
"of" the street children, (67.2%) of the children eat at
least twice daily, (14. 6%) of the children reported the
use of at least one of the substances like Alcohol,
cigarette, and chat. (61.6%) of the children reported an
illness during the survey. The major health complaints
were abdominal pain, cough and chest pain, eye and ear
problems, headache and leg ulcer . This survey indicated
that substance use, police arrest, sexual intercourse and
STDs were reported more frequently among the "of " the
street chi ldren . In conclusion, the street children have
complex social and health problems which need to be
addressed utilizing a multisectoral approach
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Health and Social Problems of Street Children