Document Type : Research Article
Authors
1
PhD Candidate of Social Issues, Alzahra University
2
Assistant Professor, Social Welfare Management Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences
3
PhD Candidate of Psychology, Islamic Azad University of Arak
4
Master of Social Work, Allameh Ttabatabai University
5
Associate Professor, Social Welfare Management Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences
Abstract
Street children in Kermanshah, like many other provinces of Iran, work and live. In order to make any changes in the situation of street children, it is first necessary to assess their status and factors related to street planning. In this paper, using the quantitative and qualitative methods, the demographic characteristics and street children work have been investigated. This study is part of a rapid assessment and response study in 6 cities of the country, which was conducted in Kermanshah, Iran in 1994-1996 in two qualitative and quantitative phases. In the qualitative section with targeted sampling, 19 individual interviews with key information and 9 group discussions were conducted using semi-structured questionnaires with street children. Then, in the quantitative section after identifying 54 children street hangouts, through time-space sampling, using a questionnaire, 64 street children were gathered in their hangouts. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze data in the qualitative section. Results showed that street children in Kermanshah are mostly boys (92.2%), and in terms of national-ethnic composition, they are all Iranian and belong to the three tribes of Lak, Koli, and Kurd. Most street children (81.3%) live in families and relatives, but about half of parents have divorced parents (26.6%) or one of them died (28%). Fathers are often illiterate (20.3%) or less literate (79.7%), and about 78% of them are unemployed. Addiction is one of the most common problems among the families of these children, and about 70% of fathers are the current or past consumer of drug. Also, about 60 percent of children are out of school, and often pay for small businesses such as handicrafts (86 percent), but about 36 percent of children are busy collecting waste. The most important cause of working for children is family support (70%), family coercion (68%), and orphanity (14%). These children are facing a number of problems on the street, the most common of which are cold and extreme heat, hunger and insults, and beatings from the policemen and the public. Kermanshah street children belong to families with very poor socio-economic conditions. Considering the basic and essential needs of these families and the reduction and control of the status of addiction and unemployment of family households, it seems necessary to reduce the work of children in the street. In addition, there are centers for children to use hot food and frost protection during the day. In addition, prevention of undesirable behavior by child-rearing agents is also needed to improve conditions for children on the street.
Keywords
)