Zakiuddin Ahmad, Mubin S M, Umar Memon.
Delinquency among street children in Karachi: the challenges to police and forensic medicine.
Biomedica Jan ;28(2):145-8.

Street Children are homeless, isolated and socially deprived children living in streets, parks or shrines. They are without adequate protection.1 These children, therefore, are at high risk because of their homelessness.2 The objective of this work was to analyse prevailing delinquency among street children (SC) in Karachi, and challenges posed by it to police and forensic medicine experts. It was a descriptive study. The study will be conducted on two hundred SC, at Sadder Town, Karachi. Material and Method: A pre-designed questionnaire will be used by the researcher in simple language. Interview will be conducted at Sadder Town, Karachi in the presence of a social worker from Azad Foundation who remains at Jahangir Park with the SC. Simple random sampling technique will be applied. Inclusion criteria will be SC aged between 12 – 17 years, who sleep in street at night. A minimum three years stay on street will be mandatory. Children who visit home or sleep at work place will be excluded. Results: Interview with respondents who willingly offered to cooperate revealed that the delinquent behaviour among SC is on an increase. Calculated mean age was 14.76 ± 1.47 years. There are 87% SC who are using a variety of substances while 42.2% prefers Glue Sniffing. It is very difficult to survive alone on street, so 88% SC lives in gangs. Among different gangs 82.8% of SC have physical conflicts with each other or with other gangs. The possession of place is the commonest reason in 41% SC for gang conflict. Street children keep some objects which can be used as weapon when needed. Sharp instruments, like blades are carried by 45% SC. Self – inflicted wounds present in 49.2% of cases while the reason for self – inflicted wound in 39% SC is to kill sweet memories.

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