@article{ref1,
title="Street children--a preliminary study",
journal="Ceylon medical journal",
year="1998",
author="Senanayake, M. P. and Ranasinghe, A. and Balasuriya, C.",
volume="43",
number="4",
pages="191-193",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: To study the background, life styles, health and prevalence of abuse of street children in Colombo. STUDY SAMPLE: 50 street children receiving temporary day care or night shelter from community service centres were serially recruited. DESIGN: A retrospective descriptive survey. Demographic, experiential and clinical data were collected by an interviewer, based on a semistructured questionnaire, followed by physical examination and laboratory investigation. RESULTS: The children were aged between 4 and 17 years. (Mean 10.5 years.) 64% were males and 18% belonged to ethnic minorities. The majority (84%) had family ties. Family disintegration was mentioned as the cause for life on the streets by 36%. Child labour was reported in 38%. 16% admitted to being sexually abused. 20% were tobacco smokers. Respiratory and skin infections, and injuries incurred in road traffic accidents were the main causes of morbidity. CONCLUSION: Street children in Colombo are an abused and exploited group. Road traffic accidents, and physical and sexual abuse are the main hazards of the street they are exposed to.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0009-0875",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}