Street Action - Committed to street children through action and partnership

If a child cries (dies) in the street, does anybody hear?- A situational analysis of the the physical and psychosocial health of street children in Durban, South Africa

HIV/AIDS has added to the complexity of the issue of street children in Southern Africa. With a projected figure of 4.2 million AIDS orphans by 2010 in Sub-Saharan Africa (UNICEF) the number of children living on the streets is considered by many as likely to increase; this is in spite of family networks that absorb thousands of South African children without parents, despite the added pressures this places on their resources (Adato et al. 2005, Bray,R. 2004 ).

This project aims to provide objective data regarding the health and well-being of children living on the streets of Durban; to describe their experiences of that life; and to describe the range of services directed at them. The project intends to provide insights and perspectives that, even if not exhaustive, could update and better guide responses and services to these children.

Aim of the research

To inform the development of effective strategies to avert children moving to the streets of Durban and South Africa and improve the health, well-being and future of those children who presently live there.

• To document the reasons why children resort to living in the streets in Durban and especially, the influence of HIV/AIDS (where relevant),
• To identify the reasons children give for remaining on the streets and non-return to their homes of origin;
• To produce basic demographic and health data such as malnutrition, stunting, substance abuse and TB status of children living in the streets in Durban;
• To estimate HIV prevalence rates among these children;
• To document the mental well-being of these children including their resilience and coping strategies;
• To document the services and resources available to assist the children and describe children’s perspectives and experiences of these services;
• To develop a generic analytical approach and tools for comparative research that will inform intervention initiatives for other cities in South Africa and countries in Southern Africa;

Methodology

Three methods were combined that included conventional (quantitative) and child/youth participatory (qualitative) approaches, that are designed to be complementary rather than independent or exclusive. Through these approaches, data obtained from children on the streets was triangulated and learning points reinforced.

1. Participatory Workshops:
4 one-week workshops with children living on the street in different areas of Durban
(Total 30 - boys: 18, girls: 12)
2. Quantitative Health Survey :
Interviews with 110 children living in different areas of Durban.
3. Feasibility and acceptability of HIV testing:
HIV testing was performed on children who are willing to be tested. Results were made available and services for treatment and care were facilitated. A programme of pre and post testing was developed with social workers and relevant medical staff.

Feedback to the children who participate in the research:
Prior to any public dissemination of the results, the analysis of the data and a summary of the findings were fed back to the children who participated in the workshops and, where possible, to the children who participate in the survey.

Ethics:
The project required careful planning and consideration of ethical and legal issues. The protocol was approved by the Biomedical Research Ethics Committee of the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Funding:
Provided by the Department for International Development (DFID), Pretoria, South Africa,

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