Vulnerability of Bangladeshi street-children to HIV/AIDS: A Situation Analysis

The Asia-Pacific region is home to nearly 50% of the world’s children, including large numbers of street-children. In Bangladesh, about 42 million people (32.2% of the total population) are children aged 5-17 years. In Dhaka city where their numbers are increasing, there are an estimated two million street-children. According to the 1989 International Convention on the Rights of the Child, every human aged up to 18 years is a child. However, for the purpose of this study, children of both the sexes who are living and/or working in the streets of Dhaka city and who are aged 5-12 years were defined as street-children.

The findings of the study revealed that the street-children were extremely vulnerable to HIV/AIDS because of their living and working status; peer relationships; harassments by others; risky behaviours, including drug-use and sexual behaviours; lack of knowledge about HIV/AIDS and use of condoms to protect them from HIV/AIDS; and lack access to healthcare services.