Verbal, physical and sexual abuse among children working on the street

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the verbal, physical and sexual abuse experienced by children working on the street in Ankara, Turkey to determine the type of abuse occurred, the reactions to being abused, sources of abuse and coping methods against abuse. Design and Methods: A qualitative and descriptive study was conducted with children working on the street in Ankara, Turkey. Five focus group discussions were held with 40 children. The data collection form contained questions about age, educational status, gender, abuse types, reactions to being abused, sources of abuse and coping methods against abuse. Data were assessed by frequency and percentages by using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences for Windows (version 9.5). Findings: Children working on the street in the sample said they were subjected to verbal, physical and sexual abuse (50%, 50% and 65%, respectively). More than half the participants were exposed to physical abuse from other working children who were selling different things to help their families (55.0 %) and street children who were homeless and live on the streets (65.0 %). ‘Responding with same methods’ was the most used coping method among children for all types of abuse. Of total participants, 36 children stated they needed information about abuse. The results indicate verbal, sexual and physical abuse have a negative effect on children working on the street. Conclusions: The number of children working on the street in Turkey increases each day (Polat 2009; Kurt et al 2005) and these children are most at risk for all types of abuse. Children working on the street need information and training to develop their awareness about abuse and their skill in avoiding abuse and/or dealing with the consequences. The present health education available to children working on the street in Turkey does not include information about various types of abuse. Nurses are in a position to play an important role in determining whether children they encounter are experiencing any type of abuse and should be directly involved in identifying the physical, social and psychological consequences of abuse as well as providing avenues for the protection and treatment of children affected by abuse. In order for nurses to be able to provide effective care for children working on the street, they need to be knowledgeable about them and the abuse, violence and other problems the children experience.This paper concludes children have the right to be protected against all types of abuse. Children should be educated to increase their awareness of the various types of abuse and they should also be provided with support by government institutions and health professionals, particularly nurses. Furthermore, preventive measures should be adopted to reduce all types of abuse against children in Turkey.