CIRCUMSTANCES AND PROBLEMS OF STREET CHILDREN IN GONDAR CITY ADMINISTRATION: IN A QUALITATIVE STUDY

Abstract

Objective: This research aimed to investigate the circumstances and problems of street children in Gondar city administration.   Methods: To achieve the research objectives, qualitative method and Phenomenological design were employed to investigate the daily lived experience of street children. The data were collected by using in-depth interview, FGD and key informants   and analyzed thematically.  Purposive and snowballing sampling techniques in this study were employed to select participants.   Results: The findings of the study showed that children joined the street due to lack of family planning, divorce, parental detachment, poverty, abuse, and neglect, socio- cultural issues  and peer pressure.   They are encountered rape, inadequate basic needs social exclusion, and health problems and inaccessibility of health services. Conclusion:  Street children additionally face more troubles once they are on the street that is surely going to have an effect on their development.