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Bwambale MF, Bukuluki P, Moyer CA, van den Borne BHW. Demographic and behavioural drivers of intra-urban mobility of migrant street children and youth in Kampala, Uganda. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0247156. [PMID: 33600461 PMCID: PMC7891785 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2019] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
While research on the nexus of migration and wellbeing of individuals has gained recognition in recent years, far less attention has been devoted to intra-urban mobility especially among the urban poor young populations. We assess the drivers of intra-urban mobility using a random sample of 412 migrant street children and youth in Kampala city, Uganda. This paper draws from a larger cross-sectional survey of circular migration and sexual and reproductive health choices among street children in Kampala, Uganda. We define 'migrants' as street children and youth with a rural-urban migration experience and 'intra-urban mobility' as the number of places stayed in or moved since migrating to the city, measured on a continuous scale. More than half (54.37%) of the migrant street children and youth had lived in two or more places since migrating to the city. Multivariate negative binomial regression analysis reveals migrant street children and youth's intra-urban mobility to be associated with gender (aIRR = 0.71, 95%CI 0.53-0.96), sex work (aIRR = 1.38, 95%CI 1.01-1.88), a daily income of one USD or more (aIRR = 1.57, 95%CI 1.16-2.13) and duration of stay in the city (aIRR = 1.54, 95%CI 1.17-2.01). Other drivers of intra-urban mobility included availability of causal work, personal safety and affordability of rental costs. Our findings suggest the need for urban housing and health policies to take into account street children and youth's intra-urban mobility and its drivers. Future research on all drivers of street children and youth's intra-urban mobility and its linkage with their health outcomes is recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mulekya Francis Bwambale
- Department of Health Education & Promotion, University of Maastricht Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht, Netherlands
- Department of Social Work and Social Administration, School of Social Sciences, Makerere University, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Paul Bukuluki
- Department of Social Work and Social Administration, School of Social Sciences, Makerere University, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Cheryl A. Moyer
- Departments of Learning Health Sciences and Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Bart H. W. van den Borne
- Department of Health Education & Promotion, University of Maastricht Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht, Netherlands
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Greksa LP, Islam ABMR, Okamoto R, Omori K. Dietary Patterns and Dietary Adequacy of Street Children in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Ecol Food Nutr 2017; 56:479-492. [PMID: 29023135 DOI: 10.1080/03670244.2017.1381605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The negative impact of poverty on the biological well-being of children is well established. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the impact of the stress of full-time street life on the dietary patterns and dietary adequacy of street children living in Dhaka, Bangladesh. This was accomplished by comparing the nutritional patterns of full-time street children with those of other poor children in Dhaka who also spend their days on the streets but who return to their families at night. There were few differences between groups, possibly due to street children being a select group. However, there were significant sex differences in both groups of children, with boys tending to have more diverse and more adequate diets than girls. The cause of this latter pattern could not be determined with the available data but may involve cultural values favoring males over females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lawrence P Greksa
- a Department of Anthropology , Case Western Reserve University , Cleveland , Ohio , USA
| | - A B M Rafiqul Islam
- b Faculty of Public Health, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health , Bangladesh University of Health Sciences , Dhaka , Bangladesh
| | - Rie Okamoto
- c Division of Nursing Faculty of Health Sciences , Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University , Kanazawa City , Japan
| | - Kinuko Omori
- d Division of Health Science, Graduate School of Medical Science , Kanazawa University , Ishikawa , Japan
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Hoffmann EV, Duarte CS, Fossaluza V, Milani ACC, Maciel MR, Mello MF, Mello AF. Mental health of children who work on the streets in Brazil after enrollment in a psychosocial program. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2017; 52:55-63. [PMID: 27866219 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-016-1316-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2016] [Accepted: 11/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate the mental health status of children working on the streets in Sao Paulo City, Brazil, two years after their participation in a psychosocial program, and to identify factors associated with their mental health status. METHODS From a total sample of 126 children working on the streets, 107 (85%) were re-evaluated two years after the initiation of a psychosocial program which aimed to cease their work on the streets. The focus was the presence of mental health problems, defined based on a screening instrument (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire). Logistic regression models tested factors related to the probability that a child would not present mental health problems at follow-up. RESULTS The likelihood of a child presenting mental health problems was higher at baseline compared to the two-year follow-up (67.5 and 56.1%, respectively). Absence of mental health problems two years after a psychosocial intervention was significantly correlated with the following baseline factors: lower level of caregiver's psychiatric symptoms as measured by the SRQ (Self-Report Questionnaire) (AOR = 0.84, p = 0.0065), absence of child physical neglect (AOR = 0.38, p = 0.0705) and parental Protestant religion affiliation, compared to other religions (AOR = 4.06; p = 0.0107). CONCLUSIONS Different factors are related to the absence of mental health problems of children working on the streets after enrollment in a two-year psychosocial program. Our findings suggest that interventions that aim to improve child mental health should consider the detection of psychiatric symptoms in caregivers, provide treatment when it is needed, and also assess other problems such as neglect in the family setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elis Viviane Hoffmann
- Programa de Atendimento e Pesquisa em Violência (PROVE), Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua: Borges Lagoa, 570-10° andar, Vila Clementino, São Paulo, SP, Cep: 04038-000, Brazil.
| | - Cristiane S Duarte
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Columbia University-NYSPI, New York, NY, USA
| | - Victor Fossaluza
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Sao Paulo (USP), Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Ana Carolina C Milani
- Programa de Atendimento e Pesquisa em Violência (PROVE), Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua: Borges Lagoa, 570-10° andar, Vila Clementino, São Paulo, SP, Cep: 04038-000, Brazil
| | - Mariana R Maciel
- Programa de Atendimento e Pesquisa em Violência (PROVE), Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua: Borges Lagoa, 570-10° andar, Vila Clementino, São Paulo, SP, Cep: 04038-000, Brazil
| | - Marcelo F Mello
- Programa de Atendimento e Pesquisa em Violência (PROVE), Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua: Borges Lagoa, 570-10° andar, Vila Clementino, São Paulo, SP, Cep: 04038-000, Brazil
| | - Andrea F Mello
- Programa de Atendimento e Pesquisa em Violência (PROVE), Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua: Borges Lagoa, 570-10° andar, Vila Clementino, São Paulo, SP, Cep: 04038-000, Brazil
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Hills F, Meyer-Weitz A, Asante KO. The lived experiences of street children in Durban, South Africa: Violence, substance use, and resilience. Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being 2016; 11:30302. [PMID: 27291160 PMCID: PMC4904070 DOI: 10.3402/qhw.v11.30302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
South African studies have suggested that street children are resilient but also suicidal, engage in unprotected sex and other high risk sexual behaviour as a means of survival, have high rates of substance abuse and are physically abused and stigmatized due to their state of homelessness. However, few studies have explored in a more holistic manner the lived experiences of street children in South Africa. The main purpose of this study was to explore qualitatively the lived experiences of street children living on the street of Durban, in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Adolescents (six males and four females) between the ages of 14 and 18 years (average age=16) were purposively selected and in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted. An interpretative phenomenological analysis of the transcribed data revealed that incidence of violence and drug and alcohol use were common experiences of street life. Yet despite these challenges survival was made possible through personal and emotional strength, cultural values, religious beliefs, supportive peer relationships, and participation in sports activities. These protective, resilience resources should be strengthened in health promotion interventions with a focus on mental health, the prevention of violence, substance use, and daily physical activities that seems to provide meaning and hope.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frances Hills
- Discipline of Psychology, School of Applied Human Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Anna Meyer-Weitz
- Discipline of Psychology, School of Applied Human Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Kwaku Oppong Asante
- Discipline of Psychology, School of Applied Human Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; ;
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Downey G. Being Human in Cities: Phenotypic Bias from Urban Niche Construction. CURRENT ANTHROPOLOGY 2016. [DOI: 10.1086/685710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Crombach A, Bambonyé M, Elbert T. A study on reintegration of street children in Burundi: experienced violence and maltreatment are associated with mental health impairments and impeded educational progress. Front Psychol 2014; 5:1441. [PMID: 25566123 PMCID: PMC4267266 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2014.01441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2014] [Accepted: 11/25/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Street children are exposed to violence, and subsist in poor and generally precarious conditions. In conflict regions, institutional care facilities are often the only well established way to care for vulnerable children. Providing access to school education is considered to be key to allow successful integration into society. However, adverse effects of psychological disorders may pose another serious obstacle. In semi-structured interviews in a sample of 112 Burundian male youths (mean age = 15.9 years), we assessed exposure to traumatic stressors, regularly and recently occurring violence as well as prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, substance dependence, suicidal risk, and progress in school. Former street children (n = 32) and other vulnerable children (n = 50) in a residential center were compared to children living in the streets (n = 15) or with families (n = 15). While the children living in the center were less regularly exposed to violence and reported less substance dependence than street children, PTSD symptoms were common among the former street children. Furthermore, we provided empirical evidence that for the children living in the center, recently experienced violence – mostly minor physical conflicts, psychological violence and neglect – was associated with increased PTSD symptomatology and impeded progress in school. In a population of children who experienced many traumatic incidences and a lot of violence, even minor violent events may trigger and reinforce PTSD symptoms. Hence controlling exposure to violence and addressing mental ill-health in vulnerable children is mandatory for reintegration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anselm Crombach
- Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Clinical Neuropsychology, University of Konstanz Konstanz, Germany ; Department of Clinical Psychology, University Lumière of Bujumbura Bujumbura, Burundi ; Non Governmental Organization Vivo International Konstanz, Germany
| | - Manassé Bambonyé
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University Lumière of Bujumbura Bujumbura, Burundi
| | - Thomas Elbert
- Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Clinical Neuropsychology, University of Konstanz Konstanz, Germany ; Department of Clinical Psychology, University Lumière of Bujumbura Bujumbura, Burundi ; Non Governmental Organization Vivo International Konstanz, Germany
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Abdullah MA, Basharat Z, Lodhi O, Wazir MHK, Khan HT, Sattar NY, Zahid A. A qualitative exploration of Pakistan's street children, as a consequence of the poverty-disease cycle. Infect Dis Poverty 2014; 3:11. [PMID: 24661542 PMCID: PMC4022352 DOI: 10.1186/2049-9957-3-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2013] [Accepted: 03/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Street children are a global phenomenon, with an estimated population of around 150 million across the world. These children include those who work on the streets but retain their family contacts, and also those who practically live on the streets and have no or limited family contacts. In Pakistan, many children are forced to work on the streets due to health-related events occurring at home which require children to play a financially productive role from an early stage. An explanatory framework adapted from the poverty-disease cycle has been used to elaborate these findings. Methods This study is a qualitative study, and involved 19 in-depth interviews and two key informant interviews, conducted in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from February to May 2013. The data was audio taped and transcribed. Key themes were identified and built upon. The respondents were contacted through a gatekeeper ex-street child who was a member of the street children community. Results We asked the children to describe their life stories. These stories led us to the finding that street children are always forced to attain altered social roles because health-related problems, poverty, and large family sizes leave them no choice but to enter the workforce and earn their way. We also gathered information regarding high-risk practices and increased risks of sexual and substance abuse, based on the street children’s increased exposure. These children face the issue of social exclusion because diseases and poverty push them into a life full of risks and hazards; a life which also confines their social role in the future. Conclusion The street child community in Pakistan is on the rise. These children are excluded from mainstream society, and the absence of access to education and vocational skills reduces their future opportunities. Keeping in mind the implications of health-related events on these children, robust inter-sectoral interventions are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Ahmed Abdullah
- Department of Community and Family Medicine, Shifa College of Medicine, Pitrus Bukhari Road, Sector H-8/4, Islamabad, Pakistan.
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Bailey C, Lopez S, Camero A, Taiquiri C, Arhuay Y, Moore DAJ. Factors associated with parasitic infection amongst street children in orphanages across Lima, Peru. Pathog Glob Health 2013; 107:52-7. [PMID: 23683330 DOI: 10.1179/2047773213y.0000000073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Infection caused by intestinal parasites has significant public health consequences amongst children in the developing world. Street children are an under-studied group of society subjected to increased health risks when compared to their peers. To estimate the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection and ascertain risk factors for parasitosis amongst this population, stool samples were collected from 258 children across four orphanages in three districts of Lima, Peru. Surveys were used to determine associations between risk factors and infection status. The prevalence of parasitic infection within the study sample was 66·3%, with 30·6% testing positive for pathogenic species. Entamoeba coli was the most commonly detected parasite (41·9%) and Giardia lamblia was the most commonly detected pathogenic parasite (17·1%). Of the group 15·1% had helminth infection. When testing for association, age and BMI were risk factors for infection. A notable difference in prevalence (P < 0·00001) based on orphanage was observed, but the duration of residence in an orphanage was not a predictor for infection. A sub-analysis conducted amongst children who were given anti-parasitic treatment 5 months beforehand found no significant difference in parasitosis between those who had been given treatment and those who had not (P = 0·218). It is suggested that a single dose of albendazole alone may not be effective in combating long-term infection rates.
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Sales NJ, Queiroz Gurgel R, Rebelo Gonçalves MI, Côrtes Gama AC, Oliveira Cunha E, Prado-Barreto VM, Todt-Neto JC, Sampaio d'Avila J. Voice performance evaluation of street children from Aracaju, Brazil using perceptual-auditory and acoustic analyses. J Voice 2013; 27:589-94. [PMID: 23769010 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2013.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2012] [Accepted: 02/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare the voice performance of children involved in street labor with regular children using perceptual-auditory and acoustic analyses. METHODS A controlled cross-sectional study was carried out on 7- to 10-year-old children of both genders. Children from both groups lived with their families and attended school regularly; however, child labor was evident in one group and not the other. A total of 200 potentially eligible street children, assisted by the Child Labor Elimination Programme (PETI), and 400 regular children were interviewed. Those with any vocal discomfort (106, 53% and 90, 22.5%) had their voices assessed for resonance, pitch, loudness, speech rate, maximum phonation time, and other acoustic measurements. RESULTS A total of 106 street children (study group [SG]) and 90 regular children (control group [CG]) were evaluated. The SG group demonstrated higher oral and nasal resonance, reduced loudness, a lower pitch, and a slower speech rate than the CG. The maximum phonation time, fundamental frequency, and upper harmonics were higher in the SG than the CG. Jitter and shimmer were higher in the CG than the SG. CONCLUSION Using perceptual-auditory and acoustic analyses, we determined that there were differences in voice performance between the two groups, with street children having better quality perceptual and acoustic vocal parameters than regular children. We believe that this is due to the procedures and activities performed by the Child Labor Elimination Program (PETI), which helps children to cope with their living conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neuza Josina Sales
- Post-graduate Nucleus in Medicine, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil.
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Maciel MR, Mello AF, Fossaluza V, Nobrega LP, Cividanes GC, Mari JJ, Mello MF. Children working on the streets in Brazil: predictors of mental health problems. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2013; 22:165-75. [PMID: 23073672 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-012-0335-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2011] [Accepted: 09/29/2012] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine which factors predict higher risk for mental health problems in children working on the streets. We studied a sample of families that had at least one child working on the streets, from October 2008 to March 2009. The instruments applied were the parent version strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ), the childhood trauma questionnaire (CTQ) for children and caregivers, the WorldSAFE core questionnaire, the global assessment of relational functioning scale (GARF), the schedule for affective disorders and schizophrenia for school-age children (K-SADS), and a socio-demographic questionnaire. 191 children between 7 and 14 years of age were analyzed; 126 (66%) were working on the streets, and 65 were siblings who did not work on the streets. Multivariate analysis showed that mental health problems in the caregivers, violent behaviors of the caregivers toward the children, absence of a partner living in the house, and lower levels of family functioning increased the risk of mental health problems in the children. Caregivers reported severe forms of physical punishment against their children in 62% of cases. Caregivers who had suffered sexual abuse and emotional negligence in childhood were more violent with their children. Factors that increased risk for mental health symptoms in these children were caregivers' psychopathology, physical punishment at home, single-parent structure, and poor family functioning. Work on the streets did not influence the children's mental health, when multiple risk factors were considered; family characteristics were the most significant in this sample.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana R Maciel
- Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, PROVE/UNIFESP Rua Botucatu #431, São Paulo, SP, 04023-061, Brazil.
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Vameghi M, Rafiey H, Sajjadi H, Rashidian A. Disadvantages of being a street child in Iran: a systematic review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ADOLESCENCE AND YOUTH 2013. [DOI: 10.1080/02673843.2012.759601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
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A qualitative study of georgian youth who are on the street or institutionalized. Int J Pediatr 2012; 2012:921604. [PMID: 23227056 PMCID: PMC3512289 DOI: 10.1155/2012/921604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2012] [Accepted: 09/18/2012] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Street children, or children who live and/or spend time on the streets, are a vulnerable group of considerable concern to the global public health community. This paper describes the results of two linked qualitative studies conducted with children living or spending time on the street and in orphanages in and around urban areas in the Republic of Georgia between 2005 and 2006. The studies examined perceived causes of children going to the street, as well as indicators of healthy functioning and psychosocial problems among these children. Results on causes indicated a range of “push” factors leading children to the street and “pull” factors that keep children living on the street. Findings also showed a range of internalizing and externalizing mental health symptoms among children on the street and within orphanages. Some differences in responses were found between children living on the street and in institutions. It is important to understand the perspectives of these vulnerable populations to guide decisions on appropriate interventions that address their primary problems.
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Bezerra KF, Gurgel RQ, Ilozue C, Castaneda DN. Estimating the number of street children and adolescents in two cities of Brazil using capture-recapture. J Paediatr Child Health 2011; 47:524-9. [PMID: 21392143 DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1754.2011.02015.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
AIM To use the capture-recapture method to estimate the number of street children and adolescents in Maceió and Arapiraca, north-east Brazil, and describe the characteristics of the two populations. METHODS The number of children and adolescents on the street in Maceió and Arapiraca was estimated using the multi-list capture-recapture method. Two street surveys and an official list from the social services department were compared. The characteristics of the children were recorded during the street surveys using a questionnaire. RESULTS The estimated number of street children and adolescents was 5225 in Maceió and 1191 in Arapiraca. According to the official records, the population registered was 565 and 157, respectively. Most individuals were male (71.4% and 71.8%, respectively). They still maintain contact with their families (85.5% in Maceió and 89.6% in Arapiraca) and attend school regularly (43.4% and 49.7%). Drug use was admitted by 46.9% of the individuals in Maceió and by 26.9% in Arapiraca. In both cities, glue inhalation, associated or not with other drugs, was most frequently cited. CONCLUSIONS Children and adolescents on the streets are a common and underestimated occurrence in Maceió and Arapiraca. They have similar characteristics to street children from other countries and other cities in Brazil. The method of capture-recapture seems to be suited to study populations such as street children.
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Andrade T, Santiago L, Amari E, Fischer B. ‘What a pity!’ – Exploring the use of ‘pitilho’ as harm reduction among crack users in Salvador, Brazil. DRUGS-EDUCATION PREVENTION AND POLICY 2010. [DOI: 10.3109/09687637.2010.506898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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Goncalves de Moura Y, van der Meer Sanchez Z, Noto AR. Diversity of contexts in drug use among street adolescents. QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH 2010; 20:1241-53. [PMID: 20479135 DOI: 10.1177/1049732310370967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
In this study we aimed to investigate through ethnographic methods the different contexts of drug use by street adolescents in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Participant observations and semistructured interviews were performed at 11 major points of adolescent concentration in the streets of the city and in 10 care institutions. The sample was composed of 17 adolescents between 12 and 17 years of age. Data showed diverse patterns of drug use distributed by geographic situation and street circumstances. Observations were grouped into three main contexts: (a) immersion: greater intensity of drug use associated with greater involvement in the street culture; (b) surface: less drug use associated with family closeness; and (c) alternative-migratory: greater involvement with drug trafficking and prostitution associated with less family closeness and street culture. The drug use patterns varied in accordance with the diversity of street situations. Therefore, the peculiarities of each context should be taken into consideration in the development of social/ health policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yone Goncalves de Moura
- Federal University of Sao Paulo, Rua Napoleao de Barros n.925-Sao Paulo-SP 04024-002, Brazil.
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Sales NJ, Gurgel RQ, Gonçalves MIR, Cunha E, Barreto VMP, Neto JCT, D'Avila JS. Characteristics and Professional Use of Voice in Street Children in Aracaju, Brazil. J Voice 2010; 24:435-40. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2008.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2008] [Accepted: 12/09/2008] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Opaleye ES, Noto AR, Sanchez ZVDM, Moura YGD, Galduróz JCF, Carlini EA. Recreational use of benzydamine as a hallucinogen among street youth in Brazil. BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY 2010; 31:208-13. [PMID: 19784487 DOI: 10.1590/s1516-44462009000300005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2008] [Accepted: 05/20/2009] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe the recreational use of benzydamine, an anti-inflammatory drug, among street youth in Brazil. METHOD DESIGN a descriptive, cross sectional survey. SETTING 93 welfare services for the street youth in 27 Brazilian capitals. PARTICIPANTS 2807 street youth, 10 to 18 years old. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES demographic characteristics, drug use pattern (lifetime use, use in the past 30 days, frequency, and characteristics of use in the past month) and effects of benzydamine through the use of a questionnaire. RESULTS 78 reported lifetime recreational benzydamine use (67 cases identified only in three capitals). Among the 30 respondents reporting drug use in the last month (the month preceding the survey), 66.7% (n = 20) used the drug on 4 or more days (in the month preceding the survey). The most frequently (50%) pleasure effects reported were hallucination and nonspecific sensory changes described as 'trips'. Unwanted effects were reported by 75% of respondents, they were especially nausea and vomiting (21.4%). In the majority of the cases, drug was obtained from drugstores without a medical prescription. CONCLUSION This study identifies the recreational use of benzydamine among street youth, mainly in the Northeast of Brazil, and also indicates the need for special controls on the dispensation of this substance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emérita Sátiro Opaleye
- Brazilian Center of Information on Psychotropic Drugs, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
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Chi D, Milgrom P. The oral health of homeless adolescents and young adults and determinants of oral health: preliminary findings. SPECIAL CARE IN DENTISTRY 2009; 28:237-42. [PMID: 19068064 DOI: 10.1111/j.1754-4505.2008.00046.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
A survey was administered to 55 homeless adolescents and young adults aged 14 to 28 years who presented for care at a community health center in Seattle, Washington in 2005. Forty-five valid surveys were analyzed. The aim of the study was to identify factors associated with self-reported oral health. The most common self-reported dental problem was sensitive teeth (52.6%), followed by discolored teeth (48.6%), toothache (38.5%), or a broken tooth (37.8%). Dental problems were associated with lower self-reported oral health, while non-high school graduates, mixed race youths, and methamphetamine users had significantly higher self-reported oral health. Among homeless youths, addressing dental problems with direct dental care may improve self-perceived oral health. The relationships between methamphetamine use and education level, on the one hand, and self-reported oral health, on the other, are complex and may be modified by age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donald Chi
- Dental Public Health and Pediatric Dentistry, The University of Iowa, Iowa, USA.
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Contreras-Bulnes R, Reyes-Silveyra LJ, Fuentes-Alvarez T, Escamilla-Rodriguez F, Rodríguez-Vilchis LE. Dental caries and treatment needs in street children in Toluca, Mexico. Int Dent J 2008; 58:134-8. [PMID: 18630108 DOI: 10.1111/j.1875-595x.2008.tb00188.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess dental caries (deft and DMFT) and treatment needs, in street children from the city of Toluca in Mexico. METHODS After informed consent from their parents, guardian or legal representative, 310 street children, 0 to 17 years of age, from Toluca in the state of Mexico, were evaluated. Caries and treatment needs were recorded according to 1997 WHO criteria. The oral examination was carried out on site in daylight. RESULTS For the population from which the sample was derived, the caries prevalence was 94.96%, the mean DMFT was 6.0 +/- 4.6 (5.8 decayed), while deft was 3.5 +/- 3.7 (3.4 decayed). Treatment needs in the deciduous dentition revealed that 43.9% of teeth did not require any treatment, 20% needed fissure sealants, 19% required one surface restoration and 13.19% needed restoration in two or more surfaces. In the permanent dentition, the treatment needs were as follows: 51.2% teeth did not need any treatment, 22.9% needed fissure sealants, 18.4% required one surface restoration and 5.3% needed restoration in two or more surfaces. CONCLUSIONS These findings illustrate the high prevalence of caries in street children in the city of Toluca. There is an enormous need for dental treatment; sealant applications were the treatment most in need. The data can serve as a platform to implement preventive and restorative dental health programmes that meet the needs of Mexican street children,
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Njord L, Merrill RM, Njord R, Pachano JDR, Hackett A. Characterizing health behaviors and infectious disease prevalence among Filipino street children. Int J Adolesc Med Health 2008; 20:367-374. [PMID: 19097574 DOI: 10.1515/ijamh.2008.20.3.367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To describe health problems and social, environmental, and health behavior characteristics among street children in Manila, Philippines. METHODS A cross-sectional survey and clinical tests that included chest radiographs blood, urine, and stool samples were completed with 179 street children, ages 8-17 years, served by Childhope-Asia Philippines. RESULTS The most frequently occurring health problem was coughing, followed by fever, dyspnea, diarrhea, and then blood in the stools. Males compared with females were more likely to be kicked, punched, or slapped by an adult. Among males, 65% are current smokers and 52% have consumed alcohol. Among females, 37% are current smokers and 67% have consumed alcohol. The percentage of children with low hemoglobin was 91% for males and 16% for females. The percentage of children with low hematocrit was 69% for males and 22% for females. Of all children tested, 7.9% had hepatitis B, 12.3% had pneumonia, and 25.5% had ascariasis. CONCLUSIONS Filipino street children have a high level of infectious disease, with females experiencing higher levels of coughing, dyspnea, and fever whereas males had higher levels of diarrhea. Males are more likely to be physically abused and to smoke tobacco whereas females are more likely to drink alcohol. Both males and females experienced depression and anxiety and many children were sexually active. Diseases common among the population are pneumonia, anemia, hepatitis B and ascariasis, primarily due to their lack of adequate nutrition, close living proximity, and unsanitary living conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Levi Njord
- Department of Health Science, College of Health and Human Performance, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602, United States of America
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Greksa LP, Rie N, Islam ABMR, Maki U, Omori K. Growth and health status of street children in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Am J Hum Biol 2006; 19:51-60. [PMID: 17160986 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.20573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of street life on the growth and health status of poor children who live and work full-time on the streets of Dhaka, Bangladesh (street children), independent of the effects of poverty. This was accomplished by comparing 142 street children with 150 poor children who live and work on the streets of Dhaka but who return to their families at night (slum children). Children between 7-14 years old were recruited at locales where street and slum children are typically found. Weight and upper arm circumference did not differ significantly between street and slum children (P > 0.05), but energy reserves, as assessed by skinfolds, were significantly larger in street than in slum children (P < 0.05). There was no wasting in either street or slum children. Although the majority of children in both groups were stunted and underweight, there were no significant differences between groups (P > 0.05). The prevalence of disease symptoms tended to be slightly higher in street children than in slum children, but few of the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). These data do not support the contention that street children are a particularly high-risk group. The greater-than-expected growth and health status of street children, compared to other poor children, may be due to biologically fitter children being more likely to permanently move to the streets and/or to remain on the streets once the move has been made.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lawrence P Greksa
- Department of Anthropology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44120, USA.
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Lambert ML, Torrico F, Billot C, Mazina D, Marleen B, Van der Stuyft P. Street Youths Are the Only High-Risk Group for HIV in a Low-Prevalence South American Country. Sex Transm Dis 2005; 32:240-2. [PMID: 15788923 DOI: 10.1097/01.olq.0000158493.89520.db] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To measure HIV prevalence in various subpopulations in Bolivia. DESIGN In 2002 in Cochabamba, we offered voluntary counseling and testing to homeless street youths, registered and unregistered commercial sex workers, truck drivers, and prisoners. We examined surveillance data of pregnant women and blood donors. RESULTS Among street youths over 15, overall HIV prevalence was 3.5% (11/313), higher among those recruited in the street, lower among those recruited in centers for homeless; prevalence was 0.6% (2/334) and 0.5% (1/189) in female registered and nonregistered sex workers, respectively, and below 0.3% in all other groups. All HIV cases were attributed to sexual transmission. CONCLUSION In a low-prevalence setting where intravenous drug use is uncommon, street youths are a threat for the expansion of the HIV epidemic. We argue that HIV prevention in this population requires a comprehensive approach to their health and social problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Laurence Lambert
- Epidemiology and Diseases Control Unit, Department of Public Health, Institute for Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.
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Ali M, Shahab S, Ushijima H, de Muynck A. Street children in Pakistan: A situational analysis of social conditions and nutritional status. Soc Sci Med 2004; 59:1707-17. [PMID: 15279927 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2004.01.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
This paper examines the social conditions and nutritional status of street children in Pakistan. Nutritional status is evaluated by an assessment of height and weight relative to age. A heterogeneous sample of 108 street children in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad was studied. One hundred and one of them were children "on the street" having regular family contact; seven were "of the street", without any family contact. Most street children came from large families which had recently moved to the city in search of economic opportunities. Their parents had low education levels and were either unemployed or employed in unskilled occupations. Poverty clearly was an important factor. The majority of the children moved to the street to augment family income. Most of the children were males (81%) and the average age at beginning life on the street was under 10 years. The majority was working 8-12 h daily with an average income of Rs. 40-60 per day (USD 1 = Rs. 60). Important issues were parental exploitation, police harassment, abuse, and the impact of other street peers in their lives. The distribution of height-for-age relative to the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) reference standard showed that 20% were stunted and 12% had wasting. Wasting was equal between sexes, while fewer girls than boys were stunted. The study concludes that the issue of street children in Rawalpindi and Islamabad is mainly one of "children on the street," while "children of the street" are an exceptional phenomenon. It was noted that, with some exceptions, street children in other world regions share similar risk factors and backgrounds. Findings from this study will facilitate both the identification of high-risk families, i.e. those whose children are likely to take to the street, and timely preventive and rehabilitative measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moazzam Ali
- Department of Developmental Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Institute of International Health, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-Ku 113-0033, Japan.
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Abdelgalil S, Gurgel RG, Theobald S, Cuevas LE. Household and family characteristics of street children in Aracaju, Brazil. Arch Dis Child 2004; 89:817-20. [PMID: 15321855 PMCID: PMC1763212 DOI: 10.1136/adc.2003.032078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
AIMS To describe the family background of street children in Aracaju, Brazil, their parents' perception of street life, and the reasons for the high prevalence of males observed among street children. METHODS Cross sectional study using semi-structured interviews and qualitative focus group discussions with parents of purposively selected index street children. RESULTS Fifty eight families were enrolled. Most participants were single parent, female headed families living in slums or low cost housing, with high levels of illiteracy, drug use, unemployment, and a history of migration. Most parents reported receiving financial support from their children and were aware of the dangers of the street. Many parents had lived in the street, worked from an early age, and had been adolescent parents themselves. Parents perceived that the street was more dangerous for girls than for boys. Besides economic reasons, parents highlighted the role of peers and drug use in pulling their children to the street. A total of 187 siblings were identified. Siblings had poor school performance with high school drop out rates. Twenty per cent of the adolescent girl siblings were not living at home. Gender determined the type of work undertaken by children and adolescents. Males worked in the streets and females worked as housemaids, shop assistants, and in restaurants and bars. CONCLUSION Family disintegration, poverty, drug use, adolescent pregnancy, peer pressure, and socially constructed gender roles determine the characteristics of children in the street. There is an urgent need for increased social support in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Abdelgalil
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Khartoum, Sudan
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Duarte C, Hoven C, Berganza C, Bordin I, Bird H, Miranda CT. Child mental health in Latin America: present and future epidemiologic research. Int J Psychiatry Med 2004; 33:203-22. [PMID: 15089004 DOI: 10.2190/4wjb-bw16-2tge-565w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This report reviews population studies of child and adolescent mental health carried out in Latin America over the past 15 years. Also considered is the issue of how to meet the needs of children and adolescents who may present mental health problems in Latin America, given that most of them live in poverty in economies that are underdeveloped, providing limited resources. METHOD Ten studies from six different countries were identified that employed some form of randomized sampling method and used standardized instruments for assessment. The authors present a summary of the main characteristics of these studies, highlighting methodological features that may account for differences in the rates obtained. RESULTS Overall, a similar pattern of prevalence and risk factors for mental health problems in children and adolescents in Latin American countries emerged. Moreover, rates of disorders in these children are similar to the 15 to 20% found in other countries. These findings are similar to those observed when adult mental health problems are considered. Prevention and treatment strategies are discussed and the peculiarities of the delivery of mental health services for children and adolescents are explored. CONCLUSIONS Future research needs to focus on understanding of resilience and formal and informal mental health delivery systems of care available in different Latin American countries. Such research has high potential for ameliorating the prevention and treatment of child and adolescent mental health problems in this region of the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristiane Duarte
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo-Escola Paulista de Medicina, Brazil.
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Veale A, Donà G. Street children and political violence: a socio-demographic analysis of street children in Rwanda. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2003; 27:253-269. [PMID: 12654324 DOI: 10.1016/s0145-2134(03)00005-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
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. METHOD 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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Veale
- Department of Applied Psychology, National University of Ireland, University College Cork, IDA Centre, North Mall, Cork, Ireland
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Couture C, Royer E, Dupuis FA, Potvin P. Comparison of Quebec and British teachers' beliefs about, training in and experience with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIOURAL DIFFICULTIES 2003. [DOI: 10.1080/13632750300507026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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