Behavioral Survey among Street Children in Greater Cairo and Alexandria

Khaled Nada, Population Council
ElDaw Suliman, Population Council
Nadia Zibani, Population Council

Egypt has a localized HIV/AIDS epidemic. Street children are exposed to the risk of HIV/AIDS. Objective: Identify behaviors that increase the vulnerability of street children to HIV/AIDS. The time-location method was used to select a probability sample. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used Results: family problems were the main reason of leaving home. Older street children control younger ones through verbal, physical, and sexual abuse. Harassment and abuse by the police is a constant threat. Physical abuse, and sexual abuse are the most serious problems faced. Few want to return back to their families. Smoking, alcohol consumption and drug abuse are common. Injection drug use is uncommon. Risky sexual behavior: heterosexual (67%), same sex (28%), forced sex (16%). Poor knowledge of STDs, modes of transmission, and means of protection. Regression analysis revealed that knowledge of the means of HIV prevention has no significant impact on reducing sexual risky behaviors.