The Correlation between Food Consumption Pattern and Nutritional Status among Street Children in Shelter Home

Abstract

Street children are the children who spend most of their time to earn for money or work at the streets and other public places. Consequently, the street children’s eating habit is not regular and it will lead to irregular food consumption pattern. Eating pattern influences one’s nutritional status. The objective of this research was to discover the correlation between food consumption pattern and nutritional status among street children in Shelter Home, Medan Maimun Sub-district. This is a quantitative research with descriptive correlational approach. The population was all street children in the shelter home, Medan Maimun Sub-district i.e. 51 children. The results of the research demonstrated that there was a positive and significant correlation between food consumption pattern and nutritional status of street children in the shelter home, Medan. Street children in shelter home, Medan mostly have poor food consumption patterns and very poor nutritional status categories. Therefore, it is expected that No-governmental Organizations such as KOPA provide socializations or counselling to the families of the street children about food consumption patterns and nutritional status so that they will have understanding of nutritious food and healthy eating pattern.

Street Children in Iran: What Are Their Living and Working Conditions? Findings from a Survey in Six Major Cities

“…One of the main discriminations is the lack of access to essential services and basic needs such as health care and education. Studies in different countries, including Indonesia, Bangladesh, Nepal, and several African countries, reveal that discrimination subjects street children to hunger, malnutrition, body pains, sickness, and exhaustion; furthermore, they are frequently exposed to injuries, burns, accidents, and polluted environments, and they also experience lower academic achievement [ 10 , 11 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 ]. In terms of mental health, evidence from Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Vietnam, South Africa, and India shows that street children experience poor mental health and face challenges such as high levels of stress, anti-social behavior, anxiety, aggression, and depression [ 6 , 11 , 21 , 26 , 27 , 28 ], and they consume drugs and alcohol [ 11 , 29 , 30 , 31 ].…”