An analysis of the determinants of the street children:a case of Moshi municipality, Kilimanjaro region

Street children constitute a highly vulnerable; most deprived and marginalized group in the society, whose rights are constantly violated with impunity. This study aimed at analysing the determinants of street children in Moshi Region and their challenges. The study employed the descriptive method of research to collect data. While primary data were collected through structured questionnaires, interviews and observation, secondary data were derived from published documents and literatures related to the research problem. The survey was done to five Street Children Centres and Social Welfare Office in Moshi municipal. A total of one hundred and twelve respondents through purposive sampling techniques were interviewed; fifty children from five street children centres, fifty street children living outside the centres and twelve workers of the Social Welfare Office in Moshi municipal were also interviewed. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative data analysis. Qualitative method involved content data analysis and a statistical software package “SPSS” was used for quantitative data analysis to generate descriptive statistics, frequencies, percentages, charts, tables and cross tabulation. The results show that there are many factors that force children to become “Street Children” such as carelessness of parents, orphan, poverty, divorce, attractive services in towns and children born out of wedlock. The double orphan factor had the highest percentage which is 40% of all the street children interviewed. The results also show that 74% of the street children interviewed in Moshi urban were from Moshi rural areas. Meals and accommodation which is 40% were revealed to be the most challenges facing these children followed by physical violence with 18% and lack of health services with10%. The study shows that the number of street children has been increasing. The information obtained from key informants shows that the magnitude of the problem is huge in urban areas while there are few centres for street children. In addition, the centres were left to individual, and Non-Government Organizations to operate and the Government is rarely assisting them. It is generally concluded that community sensitization should be done to reduce factors causing street children. This will help to improve social and economic welfare, provide essential services and abolish child labour. The Government should ensure that Municipal councils involve their community in solving the problem of street children as well as enforcement of bylaws that safeguard the rights of children.