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Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................3
1.1 Background of the study.............................................................................................................................3
1.2 Statement of the problem............................................................................................................................6
1.3 Objectives of the study ...............................................................................................................................8
1.4 Research questions......................................................................................................................................9
1.5 Hypothesis ...................................................................................................................................................9
1. 6 Significance of the study .........................................................................................................................10
1. 7 Scope and limitations...............................................................................................................................10
1.8 Definitions of operational terms ..............................................................................................................11
Chapter 2 Review of related literature ...........................................................................................................16
2.1 Introduction ...............................................................................................................................................16
2.2 Street children phenomenon.....................................................................................................................17
2.3 Street children global perspectives ..........................................................................................................18
2.4 Substance use and abuse...........................................................................................................................24
2.5 Young women in the street.......................................................................................................................27
2.5.1 Family history ...................................................................................................................................27
2.5.2 Alcohol and drug use........................................................................................................................28
2.5.3 Health issues .....................................................................................................................................29
2.6 Children in and off the street....................................................................................................................30
2.7 Street children in Sierra Leone.................................................................................................................38
2.8 Factors that deteriorates condition in Sierra Leone ................................................................................41
2.8.1 Economic stagnation ........................................................................................................................42
2.8.2 Child abuse........................................................................................................................................44
2.8.3 Specific sactors that lead to the growth of street children plight..................................................47
2.9 Interventions that can be done to solve street children problem............................................................64
2.10 The living condition of street children ..................................................................................................66
2.11 Illegal and deviant activities in the streets.............................................................................................74
2.11.1 Child exploitation ...........................................................................................................................76
2.11.2 Child labour....................................................................................................................................77
2.11.3 Substance abuse..............................................................................................................................79
2.12 Psychological condition of street children ............................................................................................81
2.12.1 Resilience and vulnerability...........................................................................................................82
2.12.2 Psychopathology.............................................................................................................................84
2.13 Sociological and psychological theories on child development ..........................................................86
2.14 Healthy development childhood ............................................................................................................92
Chapter 3 Methodology.....................................................................................................................................94
3.1 Introduction ...............................................................................................................................................94
3.2 Research Design........................................................................................................................................95
3.3 Participants ................................................................................................................................................96
3.4 Research Instruments................................................................................................................................97
3.5 Interview/Questionnaire Structure ...........................................................................................................98
3.6 Data Analysis ...........................................................................................................................................99
3.7 Independent Samples T-Test..................................................................................................................101
3.8 Validity....................................................................................................................................................102
3.9 Ethical considerations.............................................................................................................................102
3.10 Gaining consent.....................................................................................................................................103
3.11 Confidentiality ......................................................................................................................................104
3.12 Data protection......................................................................................................................................104
3.13 Statistical treatment of the data............................................................................................................104
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