Health, Illness and Health Seeking Behaviour of the Street Children in Dhaka City: A Narrative Analysis

Bangladesh has a population of over six million street children, most of whom live in Dhaka city. The hard and stressful life that street children usually lead is a sign of poor health. In this context, the purpose of this study is to explore the perceptions of health, illness and health-seeking behaviour of the street children in Dhaka city. To achieve this, both primary and secondary sources of data were utilized. The primary methods of data collection were narrative interviews, FGDs and document analysis followed by thematic analysis. The results suggest that the circumstances surrounding the street children’s way of life and place of employment are conducive to the development of various ailments. A variety of maladies frequently afflict them, including fever, cold, diarrhoea, dysentery, gastrointestinal discomfort and skin allergies. Furthermore, their lack of access to medical care, childhood immunizations and sanitation leads to the risk of developing chronic diseases. Female street children further experience unwanted conceptions due to early marriage, which result in various health complications. We argue that the vulnerable state of street children’s health is a direct result of the interplay between the political economy and the consequences of social injustice. They experience marginalization and stigmatization as a result of their vulnerability, uncertainty and precarious access to basic needs. The health-seeking behaviour of street children, although plural, is primarily characterised by discrimination from public services. Beyond its scholastic contribution to the field of child and health studies, policymakers may also find this study useful in formulating strategies to enhance the lives and livelihoods of street children in Dhaka city.