Health status of homeless children aged 6-15 years in social care homes in Assiut Governorate

الملخص EN

Homelessness became on increasing worldwide problem in developing as well developed countries.

It is a multidimesions problem including social, economic, health backgrounds with devastating effect on the health of homeless and the community they are susceptible to many hazards including emotional, psychiatric, physical health and social problems In order to explore some of the health hazards among homeless, this study was done to identify the impact of homelessness on the physical psychosocial health status of sheltered children in Assiut Governorate.

It includes total coverage of 161 homeless children aged 6-15 years in social care homes.

The mean age of the children was 10.4 +- 2.4 years 47.8% were boys and 52.2% were girls 57.7% were in primary and 34.2% were in the preparatory education.

At least one or two health problems were present in every child.

The main health problems were skin infections in 18.6%, previous wounds in 22.4% and sweat rash in23.

% past injuries and fracture were present in 9.

3%, Conjunctivitis in 99%.

Errors of refraction in 3.7%.

Cough in 20.5%, breathing difficulty in 5.0%.

And Constipation in25.5% parasitic infestation affected 18.6% and decayed teeth in 35.4% About 85% of children spent their leisure time outdoors and with friends.

51.5% visit their relatives while 27.3% watch TV or video.

15.5% reading while I2.4% SPENDS their spare time in the household duties The main psychology al complaint was fear in 67.7%.

Mostly from punishment by hitting (37.5%, and fear from darkness (37 .2).

the other complaints were feeling worry (22.4%) lack of concentration (18, 0%), feeling unhappy (16 1'%) and night bed-wetting (15.5%) Boys had loss of appetite, feel worry unhappy.

Lack of concentration and have a kind of fear more than girls significant sex difference) The psychological feelings towards housed children fining with their family, were.

60.2% of children are hoping to be "like them", 39.8% feet being like them.

12.4% feel less than them.

83.9% of children We cheerful, active (84.5%) and have a good personal hygiene (72.0%) Two homes do periodic examination and in another two, medical examination is done by a specialist on call.

In the lust place there is a clinic working 7