The lived experiences of children living on the streets of Hillbrow

Abstract

Background: The effects of daily abuse and hardship on the streets lead to poor mental health in children living on the streets, resulting in them choosing ineffective and self-destructive coping strategies that impact their physical health and overall sense of wellbeing. The facilitation of the mental health of children living on the streets who are subjected to daily threats to their survival is thus crucial.Objectives: The aim of this research was to explore and describe the lived experiences of children living on the streets of Hillbrow, Johannesburg.Method: The research design was qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual. A purposive sample was selected through a temporary shelter in Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa and consisted of 14 male children living on the streets. Data were collected using drawings, in-depth phenomenological interviews and field notes. The central interview opening statement was: ‘Tell me about your life on the street’.Results: The results obtained indicated that children living on the streets are threatened, exploited and exposed to physical, sexual and emotional abuse on a daily basis by the community, the authorities and other street dwellers. This leads to feelings of sadness, fear, anxiety, misery, despair, hopelessness, helplessness and suicide ideation, which in turn lead to drug abuse and criminal activities. In contrast, positive feelings of sympathy for other children living on the streets emerged and these children also displayed perseverance, resilience and a striving for autonomy.Conclusion: Street life exposes children to a variety of experiences, both positive and negative. A striving after autonomy is clearly depicted by these children, who are able to tap into a range of responses, both on- and off-street.

A Qualitative Exploration of the Lives of Street Children in Cameroon.

“…They are exposed to several diseases on the streets not leaving out sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS. Their health problems were also similar to those from other studies with little or no differences [5][6][7][8][9].…”

“…Reasons like family poverty, dysfunctional family structure, authoritative parenting, and illness of one or both parents among others emerged during the interview as reasons why they ran away from home. Studies from some African countries, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania and Egypt, also produced similar results when they investigated reasons for children to run to the streets in cities [5][6][7][8][9].…”

“…16 Another point that was drawn from the results concerns authoritarian parenting where parents beat children even for small crimes and in some cases these parents lock the children out and let them sleep outside for the sake of discipline [10][11][12][13]. In such circumstances the child gradually makes new friends at night on the street so whenever he or she is locked out it is an opportunity for him or her to get closer to his or her street friends, and eventually when he or she cannot take the beatings and harsh discipline any more, they end up disappearing to the streets [5][6][7][8][9].…”

“…To most of these children a good day is a day they can be sure to have food to eat, a day they can walk freely on the street without being physically abused, sexually abused, or arrested by the police for walking freely on the streets. The most amazing aspect about these children is, despite all the challenges they still smile, feel happy and grateful when you give them food [5][6][7][8]. The Cameroon government should be able to provide food and much more for these children [14].…”

Street Children’s Problem in Getting Education: Economic and Parental Factors

“…Hai (2014, p.51) argues that "to keep the wolf of hunger away from their stomach many of them were obliged to embrace hazardous jobs". To make it worse, Myburgh, Moolla, and Poggenpoel (2015 ) argue that children living on the street might try to avoid the police by hiding and leaving the town for a week, a month or a year. Most street children do not go to school since there are some administration fees to be paid.…”