Special health problems for street and working children in urban India - sexually transmitted infection and HIV

Abstract

Issues: New Delhi Railway Station handles about 600000 commuters a day.At any given time, about 500 children live on the platforms at its neighborhood. New Delhi in street in national capital region are a home to large number of children and adolescents who runaway from home in different part of north and eastern India.Children being homeless.Often these children face the abusive and exploitative situations that they runaway from home;they may be �protective� by an older child or a gang in exchange for certain favors; they may take to�sniffing�solvents� glue, ingesting mood altering drugs or petty crimes.Because of that alcoholic parents, poverty, lack of education and very big peer pressure by the peer group force for substance abuse and very high-risk sexual behavior.They face very big challenges on the street and involve in all the activities as trigger for their physical and mental ill health including STI/HIV. Description: Salaam Baalak Trust Run an OPD (GRP HEALTH POST) at the New Delhi Railway station. We provide to the children Detoxification, primary health care, Life skill session, Mental Health services, counseling, referrals and shelter facilities. The data are based on record of the health post in Six months period �Between� July 01, 2007 to December 31; 2007. Results: 491 children visited health post(69)were girls of these 63(12.9%)were treated for STI. We Done Medical Investigation 120(24.5%) of these 96(80%) Children chest infection. (172)35% children taking drugs like fluid (eraser) they were sniffing 65(13.3%) children were mal nutrition and 30 were tested for HIV, of which 1 was found to be positive. 41% children to report history of very high risk sexual behavior. Lessons learned: The Children require health care and social support services and rehabilitation efforts in order to protect their lives.In view of huge number children requiring intervention. And prevent the spread of STI/HIV amongst street children through various interventions.