Epidemiology of Depression and Sexual Abuse among Street Children

This study reviews the prevalence of present as well as prior history of sexual abuse and depression among the street children of South Tehran. Using K-SADS, 87 street children as the subjects of the study from District 12 of Tehran were screened for depression. The prevalence of their experience of sexual abuse was assessed through clinical interviews. The average age of the subjects was 11 years. 56 children (64%) were boys and 31 children (36%) were girls. The results showed that 26 girls (86.7%) and 27 boys (48.2%) were diagnosed with depression. Significant co-relations were indicated between depression and the following variables: fathers’ history of imprisonment, fathers’ unemployment, and family income provided by someone other than the father. The findings also demonstrated that 18 subjects (20.9%) had been victims of sexual abuse in 55.5% of the cases, the abuse was committed by a stranger. No significant co-relations were found between sexual abuse with depression, drug abuse, cigarette smoking, or other variables under study. The high prevalence of depression and sexual abuse among homeless children demands serious attention from both governmental and non-governmental organizations in provision of protection and education for these children. Special attention invested in this stratum of the society is quite indispensable in the eradication of venereal diseases and the prevention of the spread of AIDS.