Assessment of Sexual and Reproductive Health Status of Street Children in Addis Ababa

Abstract EN

Street children worldwide do not have the information, skills, health services, and support they need to go through sexual development during adolescence.

This study is undertaken to systematically investigate the fit between street children’s sexual and reproductive health needs and the existing services.

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 422 street children and four service providers.

About 72.5% of the respondents were sexually active during data collection and 84.3% of males and 85.7% of females tended to have multiple sexual partners.

More than two-thirds (67.3%) of the participants had used at least one type of substance.

History of substance use (OR = 2.5; 95% CI = 1.42–4.56) and being on the street for the first one to three years (OR = 5.9; 95% CI = 1.41–7.22) increased the likelihood of having sexual activity.

More than half (64.9%) of the street children did not attend any kind of sexual or reproductive health education programs.

Lack of information on available services (26.5%) was the biggest barrier for utilization of local sexual and reproductive health services.

From the individual interview with coordinator, the financial and networking problems were hindering the service delivery for street children.

In conclusion, street children who are special high risk group have not been targeted and hence continue to remain vulnerable and lacking in sexual and reproductive health services and sexual health services are poorly advertised and delivered to them.