A situation analysis of street children in Harare, Zimbabwe

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dc.contributor.advisorPowell, Gregen_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorHussey, Gregory Den_ZA
dc.contributor.authorPascoe, Margaret Joyen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2017-12-11T14:18:33Z
dc.date.available2017-12-11T14:18:33Z
dc.date.issued1996en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThe problem of children on the streets of Harare has been increasing over the last five years. The majority of these children appear to be of school-going age. Who are these children? Where do they live? Why are they not attending school? This study is an attempt to provide answers for these questions, to evaluate current policy and programmes for street children and to promote appropriate and effective policy measures. A convenience sample of two hundred and eight children, who fulfilled the definition of street child used in the study, were interviewed using a questionnaire and focus group discussions. A number of children's homes, a probation centre and a remand home were visited and personnel from non-governmental organisations working with street children were interviewed. The study found that the majority of children were male (89%), and the age distribution ranged from six to seventeen years. The mean time period spent on the street was 18,4 months. The most common reason for leaving home was that the family was unable to support the child. Most of the children slept in a nearby squatter settlement or at the city railway station. The most popular income generating activity was guarding motor vehicles. Five of the children were attending alternative education programmes and one third had never attended school. The most common medical conditions were acute respiratory infections, diarrhoeal disease and skin rashes. Some of the children had suffered physical (12) and /or sexual (10) abuse while on the street. Substance abuse, notably glue sniffing, was widespread with 78% of the children admitting to this activity. A general attitude of hopelessness prevailed among the children and few could envisage brighter prospects for the future. Short term measures to improve the children's lives on the street must be taken, but the long-term solution requires a broad attack on poverty in order to eradicate the root problems that force children onto the streets. Recommendation were aimed at the major role players in the lives of street children - the Government, the Department of Social Welfare, the Zimbabwe Republic Police and Non-Governmental Organisations.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationPascoe, M. J. (1996). <i>A situation analysis of street children in Harare, Zimbabwe</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Paediatrics and Child Health. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/26553en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationPascoe, Margaret Joy. <i>"A situation analysis of street children in Harare, Zimbabwe."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, 1996. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/26553en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationPascoe, M. 1996. A situation analysis of street children in Harare, Zimbabwe. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Pascoe, Margaret Joy AB - The problem of children on the streets of Harare has been increasing over the last five years. The majority of these children appear to be of school-going age. Who are these children? Where do they live? Why are they not attending school? This study is an attempt to provide answers for these questions, to evaluate current policy and programmes for street children and to promote appropriate and effective policy measures. A convenience sample of two hundred and eight children, who fulfilled the definition of street child used in the study, were interviewed using a questionnaire and focus group discussions. A number of children's homes, a probation centre and a remand home were visited and personnel from non-governmental organisations working with street children were interviewed. The study found that the majority of children were male (89%), and the age distribution ranged from six to seventeen years. The mean time period spent on the street was 18,4 months. The most common reason for leaving home was that the family was unable to support the child. Most of the children slept in a nearby squatter settlement or at the city railway station. The most popular income generating activity was guarding motor vehicles. Five of the children were attending alternative education programmes and one third had never attended school. The most common medical conditions were acute respiratory infections, diarrhoeal disease and skin rashes. Some of the children had suffered physical (12) and /or sexual (10) abuse while on the street. Substance abuse, notably glue sniffing, was widespread with 78% of the children admitting to this activity. A general attitude of hopelessness prevailed among the children and few could envisage brighter prospects for the future. Short term measures to improve the children's lives on the street must be taken, but the long-term solution requires a broad attack on poverty in order to eradicate the root problems that force children onto the streets. Recommendation were aimed at the major role players in the lives of street children - the Government, the Department of Social Welfare, the Zimbabwe Republic Police and Non-Governmental Organisations. DA - 1996 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 1996 T1 - A situation analysis of street children in Harare, Zimbabwe TI - A situation analysis of street children in Harare, Zimbabwe UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/26553 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/26553
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationPascoe MJ. A situation analysis of street children in Harare, Zimbabwe. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, 1996 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/26553en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Paediatrics and Child Healthen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Health Sciencesen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherHomeless Youth - Zimbabween_ZA
dc.titleA situation analysis of street children in Harare, Zimbabween_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMPhilen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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