The Causes And Psychsocial Consequences Of Street Life Among Street People Living In Ambo Town

Abstract

The major purpose of the study was to assess the Causes and Psychosocial Consequences of Street Life among street people living in Ambo Town. To achieve the objectives of the study the researcher used descriptive survey research design. To determine sample size; the researcher was employed Snowball and purposive sampling method. The data was collected from 280 samples of street people on the street of Ambo Town. To collect data the researcher used both primary and secondary sources. The researcher also used questionnaires, interview and FGDs as instruments of data collections. To analyze the data both qualitative and quantitative research approaches were used; (in narrative form for qualitative, descriptive and inferential statistics for quantitative approach). The result of this study shows that; majority of the respondents were causes for street life due to Lack of basic needs, Parent separation through death or divorce, Domestic violence, Unwanted teenage pregnancies, Substance use or drug addiction and Luck of support as disability issue; and the major factors for Psychosocial Consequences of Street Life in the study area were Fear and anxiety, Feel unhappy, Desperation, Feeling lonely, Feeling unwanted, Exposed to social exclusion, personality disorder and psychological disturbances of street life. Finally, the researcher recommended study population, community at large, concerned government and non-governmental organizations and others were applying the correct measures collaboratively through trainings and support in areas of conflict management, vocational education, family education, entrepreneurship, community based empowerment, advancing employment and job opportunity, income generation or self-help group initiatives, recreational entertainment, psycho social support and rehabilitation measure