Risk factors of substance use among street children from Delhi.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the magnitude of and socio-demographic factors related to substance use among street children in Delhi.


METHODS
Observational study.


METHODS
115 male street children aged 6 to 16 years were interviewed at the time of their admission to an observation home.


RESULTS
More than half of the subjects had indulged in substance use before coming to the observation home. The agents consumed were nicotine,inhalants, alcohol and cannabis. On application of multiple logistic regression, maltreatment of the child by family members was found significant predictor of substance use in the study group.


CONCLUSIONS
Substance use in street children is associated with unstable homes and maltreatment.
Pagare
Deepti
D
Department of Community Medicine, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi. drdeeptipagare@rediffmail.com
Meena
G S
GS
Singh
M M
MM
Sahu
Renuka
R
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003710:Demography; D005190:Family; D018453:Homeless Youth / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*