Barriers to health care for street youth

Abstract

This study investigates the barriers to health care faced by runaway adolescents. A convenience sample of 89 street youth located through community agencies was surveyed to elicit their perceptions of barriers to care. Results indicated that these youth experience a wide range of barriers to health care, both objective and subjective. They also experience fears with regard to receiving health care, many of which seem developmental in nature. The relative isolation of these youth compounds the objective barriers they face, yet many overcame these barriers and received needed care.