Original Research Article
Year: 2016 | Month: April | Volume: 3 | Issue: 4 | Pages: 25-30
A Study on Health Problems Specially Related to Paediatrics and Orthopaedic Components of Street Children of a District of Central Uttar Pradesh
Ajay Sood1, Alok Sood2
1Associate Professor, Department of Paediatrics, Major SD Singh Medical College, Farrukhabad.
2Associate Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, Major SD Singh Medical College, Farrukhabad.
Corresponding Author: Alok Sood
ABSTRACT
Background: Street children are a term used to refer to children who live on the streets of a city. They are basically deprived of family care and protection. Most children on the streets are between the ages of about 5 and 17 years old and their population between different cities is varied. Street children live in abandoned buildings, cardboard boxes, and park or on the street itself. While 18 million children work on the streets of India, It is estimated that only 2-20 percent of them are truly homeless and disconnected from their families because the street children in India have unique vulnerabilities the amount of time they spend on the street, their livelihood depending on the street, and their lack of protection and care from adults-they are a subgroup of Indian population that deserve specific attention in order to ensure that their needs are known.
Methodology: The present study was conducted by department of Paediatrics and department of orthopaedics combined, Major S.D. Singh Medical College, Farrukhabad. It was a cross sectional study among street children of Farrukhabad district. The study was conducted from 1st January, 2014 to 31st December, 2014. The study population was street children who gave consent and were ready to participate in the study. Simple random sampling techniques were used for selection of sample. Farrukhabad district was selected purposively. 80 street children aged 10-12 years were selected for the study purpose.
Results: In the present study 43.75% street children were having the height of 120-130 cms., 50% were having weight of 25-30 kg. Out of 80 children, 92.50% children were suffering from hunger, 90% were from anaemia, 95% were malnourished 22% having rickets and other skeletal deformities and 100% were found suffering from growth stunt. In the present study all of the street children were begging due to poverty and lack of education.
Keywords: Street children, Begging, Poverty, Hunger, musculoskeletal problems.