Social correlates and coping measures of street-children: a comparative study of street and non-street children in south-western Nigeria.
OBJECTIVE
This paper sought to achieve two objectives: First, to identify the social correlates attributable to street-children in south-western Nigeria as well as predisposing factors to this behavior; second, it also tried to uncover the survival mechanisms of street children.


METHODS
The study was carried out in Ibadan and Lagos metropoles in south-western Nigeria. A pilot study was first conducted to clarify issues like location of the children on the streets, time of the day suitable for interview, and adequacy of the instruments. The main study involving a comparative 202 and 201 street-children and non-street children, respectively, was carried out using the questionnaire and case study approach in the two cities. Data analytical procedures involved both quantitative and qualitative methods.


RESULTS
Street-children are mostly males, have low-levels of education, are predominantly Yoruba, and come from families with five or more siblings. Parents of street-children commonly had low education and were mainly found in unskilled occupations: were in contract polygynous marriages which are also often characterized by marital disruption. Street children also left home because of parental/familial reasons, chiefly among which was the inability of their parents to meet with their expectations. They survive on the streets engaging in some income-yielding activities, and are also faced with many hazards.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings revealed that polygyny, large family, family disruption, and child labor were all central issues and predisposing factors to living on the streets by children. The poverty factor clearly came out as a very important factor.
Aderinto
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Department of Sociology, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D002648:Child; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D018453:Homeless Youth / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires