Sexual abuse of street children brought to an observation home.

This study was conducted to assess the magnitude and pattern of sexual abuse among male inmates of an observation home in Delhi. A total of 189 boys aged 6 to 18 years were assessed for sexual abuse using Finkelhors scale and Child Maltreatment History Self-Report followed by clinical examination using American Medical Associations guidelines. Majority of boys were runaways and 38.1 percent had suffered sexual abuse. On clinical examination, 61.1 percent showed physical signs and 40.2 percent showed behavioral signs of sexual abuse. Forcible sex was reported by 44.4 percent of victims and 25 percent had signs suggestive of sexually transmitted diseases. Strangers were the most common perpetrators of sexual abuse.

Risk factors of substance use among street children from Delhi.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the magnitude of and socio-demographic factors related to substance use among street children in Delhi. DESIGN: Observational study. METHODS: 115 male street children aged 6 to 16 years were interviewed at the time of their admission to an observation home. RESULTS: More than half of the subjects had indulged in substance use before coming to the observation home. The agents consumed were nicotine,inhalants, alcohol and cannabis. On application of multiple logistic regression, maltreatment of the child by family members was found significant predictor of substance use in the study group. CONCLUSION: Substance use in street children is associated with unstable homes and maltreatment.