title: Street children and political violence: a socio-demographic analysis of street children in Rwanda.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims were: (1) to examine the profile of African street children and to assess the link between street children in Africa and political violence; (2) to undertake a systematic examination of causal factors of street children in postgenocide Rwanda; and (3) to situate this analysis in the context of the socio-cultural and political impact of the genocide on Rwandan communities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational mapping examined the profile and activities of Rwandan street children. Structured interviews were carried out with 290 children in four regional towns to obtain information on socio-demographic, familial, educational background, causal factors surrounding street life involvement, psychological well-being, and relationship to the street. Focus group discussions and key informant interviews examined the relationship between street children and the broader Rwandan society.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Street children in Rwanda were predominantly adolescent boys, almost half of whom were homeless (42%), with a high proportion of orphaned children or children who had lost at least one parent. Two variables predicted homelessness: child's guardian and reason for being in street. Qualitative accounts of children conveyed the impact of death of family members, repatriation, imprisonment of parents, and poverty on their lives.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The analysis highlighted the need for community based support for children in alternative guardianship care and for policies to support the reintegration of male youths in postconflict welfare strategies as prevention strategies for street migration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Psychology, National University of Ireland, University College Cork, IDA Centre, North Mall, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Veale
authors.forename: Giorgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Donà
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D018453:Homeless Youth / Q000145:classification* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006708:Homicide; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D011057:Politics; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012432:Rwanda / Q000453:epidemiology; D012924:Social Conditions; D014754:Violence; D014857:Warfare