Open AccessSociodemographic characteristics of street children in Alexandria
Author(s) -
Emad Salem,
F. Abd el-Latif
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
eastern mediterranean health journal/eastern mediterranean health journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.442
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1687-1634
pISSN - 1020-3397
DOI - 10.26719/2002.8.1.64
Subject(s) - nonprobability sampling , physical abuse , environmental health , sexual abuse , cross sectional study , malnutrition , geography , systematic sampling , sample (material) , medicine , psychology , socioeconomics , suicide prevention , demography , poison control , sociology , population , pathology , chemistry , chromatography
The sociodemographic characteristics of street children in the Egyptian city of Alexandria were studied. A cross-sectional descriptive study was designed. Difficulties in random sampling of street children meant that a non-random purposive sampling strategy was used. The final sample consisted of 100 street children [all boys] who were interviewed and medically examined. The study confirmed the findings of other studies that street children come from problematic family backgrounds. They are disproportionately victims of family breakdown, sexual and physical abuse. They suffer from increased health problems, malnutrition and lack of educational opportunities. Recommendations are made for programmes to address the challenging needs of street children in Alexandria.