Preliminary

Approval sheet Tribhuvan University Institute of Medicine Department of Community Medicine and Family Health Maharajgunj Campus Kathmandu This is to certify that Mr. Dinesh Kumar Chaudhary has prepared this research report entitled “Glue Sniffing Among Street Children in Kathmandu Valley” under our guidance and supervision. The research has been carried out as partial fulfillment of the requirement for the Bachelor’s in Public Health (BPH) of Maharajgunj Campus, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Nepal. This research has been accepted and recommended for approval. Approved by ……………………………………….

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ritu Prasad Gartoulla (Research Supervisor) Department of Community Medicine and Family Health Institute of Medicine ………………………………………

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bandana Pradhan (BPH Coordinator) Department of Community Medicine and Family Health Institute of Medicine

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…………………………. (Date)

Prof. Chitra Kumar Gurung (Head of Department) Department of Community Medicine and Family Health Institute of Medicine

Summary I

Growing number of street children in urban areas especially in city like Kathmandu added significant problems in the context of substance abuse especially glue sniffing. Several push and pull factors are associated with the lives of large number of street children. Temptation to earn more by getting opportunity and employment and live a better life in the city are pull factors while maltreatment at home, lack of food, abusive and alcoholic parents are the main push factors. The study was carried out with the objective to identify the various factors which contribute them to sniff glue, to suggest appropriate measures to the concerned authority in order to combat glue sniffing among street children. This is a descriptive and cross-sectional study applying both qualitative and quantitative approach. The data were collected form 42 respondents from 7 different kawads. The mean age of street children range from 13-14 years age group. Most of the street children (45.2 percent) fall under Brahmin/ Chhetri group followed by indigenous group (42.9 percent) which includes Lama, Magar ,Tamang Gurung and Limbu. About 86 percent of the respondents were completed primary level education. Domestic violence (40.5percent) followed by abuse & exploitation (19 percent) were main reasons for leaving home and came to street. Regarding the glue sniffing, almost ninety percent population were know about glue from their friends who work and live on the street and about two third of population started to sniff glue before reaching ten years. They used to sniff glue for pleasure (71.4 percent) followed by peer influence (21.4 percent).easily availability and accessibility of glue from shop lead them use such substance. This behavior late leads them to addiction and dependence. As children unknowing suffering from glue sniffing, there is urgent need to launch social action programme that generate against substance abuse.

Acknowledgement

II

I am very glad to have this opportunity to carry out this research on “Glue Sniffing Among Street Children in Kathmandu Valley”. I would like to express my gratitude to all those who helped me to make this study possible. First and foremost, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Department of Community Medicine and Family Health, Institute of Medicine for providing me an opportunity to carry out this research work. I would like to thank Head of Department, Professor Chitra Kumar Gurung and all my respected teachers of Department of Community Medicine and Family Health. I would like to express my cordial thanks to my research supervisor Associate Professor Dr. Ritu Prasad Gartoulla for his valuable guidance, suggestions and co-operation, which have greatly helped me in the process of proposal development and completion of report. I am grateful to subject teacher Prof. Chitra Kumar Gurung, Associate Professor Dr. Madhu Dixit Devkota and Dr. Amod Poudyal for providing classes and clarify the main theme of the research. I am very much indebted to CWC, Nepal, Mr. Tirtha Raj Rasaili of CWCN, Kathmandu, Mr. Moti Lal Rai, and Mr. Hira Lal Giri who helped me in the process of data collection. Last, but not least I would like to acknowledge all the people who helped me directly or indirectly during the study especially to my friends Gyanu neupane, Santosh Kumar Sah and Prakash Raj Sharma.

Dinesh Kumar Chaudhary October 2008

Acronyms AIDS BPH

Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome Bachelor in Public Health III

CWCN

Child Watabaran Centre, Nepal

CWIN

Child Workers in Nepal Concerned Centre

CWS

Child Welfare Society

HIV

Human Immune Deficiency Virus

IOM

Institute of Medicine

NGO

Non-Governmental Organization

NHRC

National health Research Council

STD

Sexually Transmitted Disease

UN

United Nation

UNICEF

United Nations children fund

WHO

World Health Organization

Table of Contents Approval sheet Summary

I II

Acknowledgement

III

Acronyms

IV IV

Table of Contents List of Tables CHAPTER I – Introduction

V VII 1

1.1 Background

1

1.2 Statement of the Problem

2

1.3 Rationale of the study

3

1.4 Research Question

3

1.5 Objectives of the Study

3

1.6 Variables of the Study

3

1.7 Conceptual Framework

4

1.8 Operational Definitions

5

CHAPTER II – Literature Review

6

CHAPTER III – Research Methodology

8

3.1 Study design

8

3.2 Study method

8

3.3 Study area

8

3.4 Study population

8

3.5 Sampling frame

8

3.6 Sampling technique

8

3.7 Sample size

8

3.8 Tolls of data collection

8

3. 9 Data collection techniques

8

3.10 Eligibility Criteria

9

3.11 Data processing and Analysis

9

3.12 Validity and Reliability

9

3.13 Limitation of the Study

9

3.14 Ethical Consideration

10

CHAPTER IV -- Findings of the Study

11

CHAPTER V –Discussion

20

CHAPTER VI –Conclusion and Recommendation

22

References

24

Annexes

26

Questionnaire

26 V

List of Tables Table 1:

Area wise distribution of street children

11

Table 2:

Age wise distribution of respondent

11

Table 3:

Caste wise distribution of respondent

12

Table 4: Table 5: Table 6: Table 7: Table 8: Table 9:

Level of education of the respondent Reasons for coming to street Reasons for leaving home Knowledge about glue sniffing Age of first experience of glue by single year Daily pattern of glue sniffing

12 12 13 13 14 14 VI

Table 10: Table 11: Table 12: Table 13: Table 14:

Reasons for glue sniffing Reasons for addiction Levels of knowledge about harmful effects of glue sniffing Children who want to rid the addiction Perception for addiction

15 15 15 16 16

VII