A descriptive study on street children living in a southern city of Turkey
Türkmen, Münevver.; Okyay, P.; Ata, O.; Okuyanoğlu, S.
Turkish Journal of Pediatrics 46(2): 131-136
2004
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-4301 PMID: 15214741 Document Number: 570194
A study was conducted to determine the sociodemographic characteristics and rate of occurrence of hepatitis B infection in children living/working in the streets in Adana, Turkey. The application forms of 52 children were assessed. Physical examination could be performed for 39 children. The median age was 14 years. The educational status of the children and parents was low. Shoe polishing (22%), selling different goods (22%) and scavenging (33%) were the most common type of work activities. 18 (35%) pointed out that they were exposed to beating and attack, 3 (6%) were sexually abused. 21 (40%) of them were involved in physical fighting and 2 (4%) were involved in fights resulting in stabbing. 24 (67%) of the children were under the 50th percentile for height. 19% of the children were heavy or medium smokers. Among the 38 children whose hepatitis B markers were checked, HbsAg was positive in 2 (5%), anti-HbcAg in 12 (32%), and anti-HbsAg in 9 (24%). 15 (39%) blood samples had negative results. A more nationwide, institutional approach to the problem must be created and maintained.