Child abuse and exploitation among children working in the streets of Latin America

Objective: To explore the prevalence and role of social determinants (school participation, social security affiliation and maternal coresidence) on the occurrence of occupational abuse and exploitation among children working in the streets.

Methods: Cross-sectional study of 641 children working in the streets of Bogotá (Colombia), Lima (Peru), Quito (Ecuador), and Sao Paulo (Brazil).

Results: One quarter of the sample reported physical or mental abuse while working. Mean age of the children was 11.85 years, 66% attended school, 37% had social security affiliation, 7% lived in the streets, and 71% resided with their mothers. Logistic regression models showed truancy to be the most significant predictor of child abuse. Children attending school were 48% less likely to report abuse (p<0.01, OR=0.52, SE= ± 0.11). Social security affiliation and maternal coresidence showed trends (p<0.1) as protective factors. An association was found between occupation type and abuse with children engaging in street performance reporting 48% less abuse and injury than children working as street vendors. Location was also a significant predictor of abuse. Children in Bogotá were 41% less likely to report being abused than children working in the streets of Sao Paulo.

Conclusions: This study provides evidence of an association between lack of social support and abuse to children working in the streets of Latin America. Children not attending school regularly were significantly more likely to be abused. Lack of maternal coresidence or social security affiliation were also associated with increased reports of abuse, but these associations showed only a trend.