Characterizing health behaviors and infectious disease prevalence among Filipino street children.

PURPOSE: To describe health problems and social, environmental, and health behavior characteristics among street children in Manila, Philippines.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey and clinical tests that included chest radiographs blood, urine, and stool samples were completed with 179 street children, ages 8-17 years, served by Childhope-Asia Philippines.

RESULTS

The most frequently occurring health problem was coughing, followed by fever, dyspnea, diarrhea, and then blood in the stools. Males compared with females were more likely to be kicked, punched, or slapped by an adult. Among males, 65% are current smokers and 52% have consumed alcohol. Among females, 37% are current smokers and 67% have consumed alcohol. The percentage of children with low hemoglobin was 91% for males and 16% for females. The percentage of children with low hematocrit was 69% for males and 22% for females. Of all children tested, 7.9% had hepatitis B, 12.3% had pneumonia, and 25.5% had ascariasis.

CONCLUSIONS

Filipino street children have a high level of infectious disease, with females experiencing higher levels of coughing, dyspnea, and fever whereas males had higher levels of diarrhea. Males are more likely to be physically abused and to smoke tobacco whereas females are more likely to drink alcohol. Both males and females experienced depression and anxiety and many children were sexually active. Diseases common among the population are pneumonia, anemia, hepatitis B and ascariasis, primarily due to their lack of adequate nutrition, close living proximity, and unsanitary living conditions.