Well-Being and Access to Health Care

Abstract

Chapter 9 provides an overview of health problems facing runaway and homeless young people. Youth who are on the streets often have difficulty accessing health care and have an increased probability of developing mental, physical health, and social difficulties. Runaway young people may have an increased probability of suffering from problems such as pneumonia, scabies, depressive symptoms, post-traumatic stress disorder, conduct disorder, prostitution, and substance use. This chapter discusses the factors that increase the likelihood that homeless and runaway young people will develop health problems. This chapter evaluates the degree to which homeless and runaway young people who are victims of human trafficking or engage in other risky behaviors such as survival sex may have a higher probability of suffering victimization and poor health outcomes such as sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including human immune virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Moreover, this chapter assesses the degree to which runaway and homeless youth who lack shelter and access to healthy food may face a greater likelihood of having food insecurity and related health problems. This chapter assesses the extent to which runaway and homeless youth suffer impaired functioning as a result of their health difficulties. In this chapter, the health status and level of impairment of adults who were former runaways are presented.