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other young people. According to WHO, factors which might contribute to vulnerability
include: malnutrition; poor hygiene/sanitation; lack of shelter; violence; and emotional/
social deprivation 31 .
Another important health issue is HIV/AIDS; however, Cambodia is one of the few
countries that have seen declining HIV prevalence reducing the adult rate (15-49 years
of age) from 3 percent in 1997 to 0.8 percent in 2008 32 . Cambodia’s HIV/AIDS epidemic is
spread primarily through heterosexual transmission and revolves largely around the sex
trade. Significantly, a low prevalence rate in the general population masks far higher prevalence
rates in certain sub-populations, such as injecting drug users, people in prostitution, men who
have sex with men, karaoke hostesses and beer girls, and mobile and migrant populations.
As a consequence of the high HIV/AIDS prevalence during the 1990s the number of
AIDS or-phans has increased in Cambodia at a proportional rate in the recent years.
Children/youth whose parents are living with HIV often experience many negative
changes in their lives even before they are orphaned. Eventually, they suffer the death
of their parent(s) and the emotional trauma that results. They may then have to adjust
to a new situation, with little or no support, and are at risk of ending up on the streets.
In response, the National HIV/AIDS Authority of Cambodia has shifted the focus of
its prevention efforts from young adults to children. 2008 statistics show an increase
in rates of antiretroviral use among children and mother-to-child transmission of the
virus.
Unsafe Migration Patterns and Human Trafficking
Migration within Cambodia is primarily internal, rural-urban, and the movement is
usually to-wards more prosperous areas.
According to the National Institute of
Statistics of Cambodia, 35 percent of the
Cambodian population are migrants 33 .
Although migrants are conventionally
thought of as adults or families, several
street children/youth are lone migrants. It
is observed that youth (aged 15-24) form
CSCN
CSCN Street Children Profile 2009
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