Abstract: This is a study intended to explore and gain insight into the physical and psychosocial condition of street children in Dasmarinas City, Philippines from June, 2014 to February, 2015. The street children were selected based on three street child categories: “children on the street”, “children of the street”, and “abandoned children” Phenomenological research design was utilized using interview and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) among 12 (twelve) street children aging 7 to 17 years old. Another (4) four key informants were also selected from the barangay officials at streets, officials from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and NGO’s from Dasmariñas City, and Philippine National Police Office (PNP) were interviewed. Purposive sampling was employed in determining the participants. The result revealed that generally, street children have disrupted home environments; houses were used to be a drinking spots and drug dens, and extreme family conflicts involving verbal, physical and sexual abuse. Furthermore, street children were forced to contribute in their family income, neglect and abuse were evident within the family, and they cannot even manage to attend school. These are the reasons why they became street children. They did not develop trust from their family or previous environment, but was able to develop autonomy and initiative. Street children labelled themselves as a ragged beggar, homeless person and people who sleep anywhere. Their life is condemned to a meaningless existence by the general public, which cast such with negative label such as pag-pag (leftovers), pangangalakal (junk), at panonobre (trash). Therefore, some of them adopted a negative image, social pathology, crime and expression of prejudice.
Keywords: Physical-Psychosocial Condition of Street Children.
Title: Physical-Psychosocial Condition of Street Children in Dasmariñas City, Cavite, Philippines
Author: Josephine P. Manapsal, MP RP, Jessa Shaidel A. Alcaraz,Vanessa Dyn C. Antoquia, Kriska B. Francisco
International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research
ISSN 2348-3156 (Print), ISSN 2348-3164 (online)
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