Street children: Causes, consequences, and innovative treatment approaches

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Public Health
• Developmental Psychology

Background:

• Street children represent a growing global socio-educational challenge.
• These children are vulnerable to physical, emotional, social, and cognitive harm.
• Interventions must address their unique needs and survival skills.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the causes and consequences of the growing street children phenomenon.
• To highlight the global dimensions of health consequences for children living on the streets.
• To propose occupational therapy interventions for street children.

Main Methods:

• Literature review on the causes and consequences of street children.
• Analysis of global health impacts (physical, social, mental, developmental).
• Exploration of occupational therapy strategies.

Main Results:

• Street life poses multifaceted risks to children's well-being.
• There is a need for context-specific interventions.
• Occupational therapy offers a framework for support.

Conclusions:

• Addressing the needs of street children requires comprehensive, context-aware interventions.
• Occupational therapy can play a vital role in facilitating positive transitions.
• Empowering street children is crucial for their integration into society.