title: Why do Kenyan children live on the streets? Evidence from a cross-section of semi-rural maternal caregivers.
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.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77551, United States; Sodzo International, Houston, TX 77002, United States. Electronic address: mlgoodman15@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Goodman
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77551, United States.
authors.forename: Kelli
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77551, United States.
authors.forename: Philip H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Keiser
authors.affiliation: Maua Methodist Hospital, Meru County, Kenya.
authors.forename: Stanley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gitari
authors.affiliation: Sodzo International, Houston, TX 77002, United States; University of Texas School of Public Health, Austin, TX 78701, United States.
authors.forename: Sarah E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Seidel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003467:Cultural Deprivation; D003906:Developing Countries; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D018453:Homeless Youth / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D011203:Poverty / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Adverse childhood experiences; Intergenerational transmission of risk; Kenya; Maternal education; Street-involved children; Street-migration