Publication: Health problems among the street children of Dharan municipality
Date
2009
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
Abstract
Background: The street children, a marginalised and vulnerable population to poor health, have grown all over the
world and also in our country. The continuous exposure to harsh environment and nature of their life style threatens their
mental, physical, social and spiritual well being. With the increasing number the problem is also growing at an alarming
proportion. It is therefore important to have baseline data on their health problems.
Objectives: This study was conducted to identify the physical health problems among the street children of Dharan
Municipality, Nepal.
Materials and methods: This is a cross sectional descriptive study. Forty eight subjects were included in the study.
Research instruments included an interview schedule, physical health examination performa and lab investigations (i.e.
blood for haemoglobin, urine routine examination/microscopic examination, stool routine examination/ microscopic
examination).
Results: Study results showed that 68.8% of the street children were between 11-15 years of age, 95.8% were males. Out
of the total subjects 81.2% were found to be rag pickers. Research findings reveal that 100% of the subjects had at least
one or more health problems. The study revealed that majority 87.5% had the habit of cigarette smoking, 50% had habit
of consuming alcohol and 72.9% had the habit of taking drug. Dendrite (glue sniffing) was the only drug used by the
respondents in this study. The most common health problems were head lice infestation (81.2%), headache (66.7%), cut
injury (60.4%), common cold (52.1%), dental caries (52%), burning micturation (47.9%), cough (47.9%), underweight
(43.8%), abdominal pain (39.6%), tinnitus (37.55%), gum bleeding (33.3%), joint pain (31.2%), eye inflammation
(25%), leg cramps (25%), palpable lymph nodes (25%), chest pain (18.8%), skin lesions (16.7%), abnormal vision
(8.3%).
Conclusion: Most of the diseases were due to poor health habits. It was found that the nature of work, their life styles
and the different types of behaviour they adapt finally lead them to many health problems. The health problem can be
prevented, if an integrated program that involves all the issues are developed and implemented.
Key words: Street children, health problems, Dharan.
Description
Thapa K 1 , Ghatane S 2, Rimal SP3
1Nursing Instructor, Charak Hospital Nursing College, Simalchaur, Pokhara, Nepal, 2Clinical Instructor, B and B Medical Institute, Gwarko, Lalitpur, Nepal, 3Intern Doctor, Kathmandu Medical College, Sinamangal, Kathmandu, Nepal