Health Problems and Health Care Seeking Behavior of Street Children in Dhaka City

Abstract

This cross sectional study was conducted among 150 conveniently selected street children in different area of Dhaka city. Face to face interview was done through semi structured questionnaire. Data analysis was done with Statistical package for social science (SPSS). The study was carried out at Kamalapur railway station, Sadarghat launch terminal, Shishu Park, Chandrema uddan and Ramna Park during the period of January- March 2017.Out of 150 street children majority (66.7%) were male and 33.3 % were female. Majority (84%) of respondents informed that they used public toilet and 76% performed open air defecation. Majority (83.3%) of the respondents had a history of illness in the last 3months. Majority of the respondent suffered from fever then dysentery, skin problems, and accidents. Health seeking behavior of the street children shows majority (68.1%) received treatment from medicine shop, 12.9% from faith-healer, 33.6% homeopathy, 11.2% from kabiraj, 28.4% from hospital, very few (8.6%) from MBBS doctor, 3.4% private clinic and 4.3% from others sources. Street children are the most marginalized, neglected part of society with very negligible access to health care and lack of awareness on available health services.