Research Article

Why do kenyan children live on the streets? Evidence from a cross-section of semi-rural maternal caregivers.

Authors

Michael L.GoodmanabKelliMartinezaPhilip H.KeiseraStanleyGitaricSarah E.Seidelbd

Citation

Goodman, M. L., Martinez, K., Keiser, P. H., Gitari, S., & Seidel, S. E. (2017). Why do Kenyan children live on the streets? Evidence from a cross-section of semi-rural maternal caregivers. Child abuse & neglect, 63, 51-60.

Publication Date

28 November 2016

Publication Year

2016

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Abstract

Globally, study of factors contributing to the street-migration of the tens of millions of street-involved children focus almost exclusively on children’s perspectives. In this study, we assess household and maternal factors associated with street-migration of children through self-report of 1974 randomly selected women in semi-rural Kenya. Contributing new perspectives on this global phenomenon, data show a statistically significant association between increased maternal childhood adversities and street-migration of children (p < 0.001). Higher household wealth (p < 0.01) and maternal education (p < 0.05) were associated with lower odds of street-migration of children. Social support, reporting HIV+, school enrollment of biologically-related children, overall health, reported alcohol use, and functional literacy significantly mediated these pathways. Protecting children from street-migration in the next generation requires reducing childhood adversities in the present generation.