Local Action for Sexual and Reproductive Health in the Street Children: A systematic Review

Context:

Street children may expose to high-risk behaviors such as unwanted pregnancy, abortion, and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

This study aimed to systematically review and present preventive strategies for promoting the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) in domains such as unsafe abortion, STDs, and unwanted pregnancy in the street children.  

Data Source and Selection:

In this systematic review databases such as ScienceDirect, Web of Science [ISI], PubMed, Scopus, Scientific Information Database [SID] and Google Scholar were searched. Published articles between 1990 and 2020 were retrieved. Finally, 41 articles were used to compile the results of this study.

Data Extraction:

Data were extracted from the articles according to the selection criteria by two independent reviewers.

A total of 1522 potentially relevant articles were identified, 275 articles were removed due to the duplication and in abstract screening, 766 articles did not meet inclusion criteria or did no focus on research question. 481 remained articles were screened for full-text and studies which were published each language expect English and Persian, studies presented in conferences and also studies which have no information regarding the SRH among street children were removed. Finally, 41 studies were included in this systematic review. Results of this study were categorized into 2 main tables. In table 1, the SWOT of SRH in street children was shown and in table 2, preventive strategies regarding unwanted pregnancy, unsafe abortion, and STDs in the street child were systematically presented in four categories such as expansion program and promotion of educational services, 2- expansion program and promotion of educational services, 3- Creating secure umbrella and social welfare and 4- expansion program and promotion of social protection. 

In conclusion, due to the lack of information on street children regarding SRH, the government should consider adequate sexual education programs such as protected sexual intercourse and counseling on the prevention of STDs and also unsafe abortion. Considering the affordable, accessible healthcare centers and facilities with providing services with no judgment for these children is an important action.