Logo: to the web site of Uppsala University

Aim: Information is scarce about the issues faced by street working. This study examined traumatic events experienced by boys working on the streets of Iraq compared to schoolboys.

Methods We compared 100 street working boys aged 8–16 years who were attending a drop‐in centre for street working children in Duhok City, Kurdistan, Iraq, in 2004/2005 with 100 age‐matched schoolboys randomly selected from six local schools. The instruments that were used included the Harvard–Uppsala Trauma Questionnaire for Children.

Results: Most of the street working boys were involved in activities such as selling goods or shoe shining, and some were stealing or begging. None were involved in drugs or prostitution. The street working boys showed a significantly higher rate of traumatic events than the control group (96% versus 64%, p < 0.001) and higher rates of moderate to severe trauma levels (78% versus 25%, p < 0.001). A varying degree of association was found for reporting different traumatic events. The largest effect size was found for torture, with an odds ratio of 28.4, and the smallest for maltreatment or assault (2.7).

Conclusion: Street working boys in Iraq faced a higher risk of exposure to traumatic events than age‐matched schoolboys.

Abstract Child labor is a gradually increasing phenomenon across the world. Children working on the streets are vulnerable to a variety of mental and non-mental illnesses. Due to the scarcity of the research on the health impacts of this phenomenon on these children, this study investigates the risks of mental illnesses and school performance among children working on the streets. A comparative study was conducted from December 16, 2006 to June 10, 2007. The study included 120 boys working on the streets and a comparable sample of non-working boys from primary schools. A modified Family Map was used to collect data on the socio-demographic characteristics. The Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview for Children and Adolescence tool was utilized to identify the presence of mental illnesses. The findings show that children working on the streets are five times more likely to be depressed and four times more likely to be anxious than school children. No significant differences are found between the two groups concerning suicide, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, conduct disorder, tic disorder or school performance. Children working on the streets are more likely to have one or more mental illnesses than the comparable sample of boys attending school regularly. More research is needed to address pathogenesis of mental illnesses as well as resilience of vulnerable children living in a difficult environment.

ABSTRACTBackground and objectives Despite devastating psychopathology after childhood trauma, no evidence-based prevention has been identified. After the Islamic State (IS) war in Iraq and Syria, a group intervention program is provided to the internally displaced and refugee children, in attempt to prevent posttraumatic psychopathology, and to identify children whoneed special care.Methods A Crisis Intervention Program for Children and Adolescents is developed by the author. Three instruments (Crisis Expression Guidelines, Crisis Screening Instrument, and Modified Family Map) are delivered through Training of Trainers (ToT) to help the displaced and refugee children (6-11 and 12-18 years) within a one-hour group session (10-30 children) express thoughts and emotions related to the war crises, and to screen for further care.Results In a pilot project, 37 professionals working with children applied to the ToT course and 300 IDP teachers completed training to provide CIPCA to the Internally Displaced People (IDP) and refugee children in the temporary camps in the region. In a pilot project, 315 children received the CIPCA, and a further 67500 school children are waiting for the intervention when the schools start in the IDP camps. Screening revealed 15.2% of theparticipating children need individual assessment.Conclusion CIPCA is applicable as a cost and time effective crisis intervention to IDP and refugee children of IS war. Further expansion of the program is planned. Follow-up will evaluate the preventive effect of CIPCA.

Background: Due, in part, to family constraints in dealing with the economical burden of raising a family, a wave of street children is sweeping the developing world. Such children are prone to both somatic and mental illnesses. This is the first ever study that has been conducted to explore the psychopathology among street children in the Duhok Governorate. Methods: The study was conducted between March 2004 and May 2005 in Duhok City among street children who attended the Zewa Center—the only center for street children in the region at the time of the study. Among a total of 107 eligible children, 100 agreed to participate (93% response rate). A modified family map (genogram) was used to obtain demographic data from the children and their caregivers through semi-structured interviews. In addition, the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview for Children and Adolescents (MINI-KID) structured interviews were conducted with the children. results: The study found that 98% of children worked on the street because of the economic need and pressure on their families. There was high rate of parental illiteracy (90% of fathers and 95% of mothers), and 61% of respondents were shown to have at least one psychiatric disorder. A high percentage (57%) of these children suffered from anxiety disorders including posttraumatic stress disorders (29%). Ten percent had depression, and 5% had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. conclusIon: Street children in Duhok seem to be working children due to their families’ needs.