This study identifies perceptions about susceptibility and responses to health risks among children of the street in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Using a qualitative approach, data were collected through in-depth interviews from 22 purposely selected street children. In addition to the field notes, audio was recorded, transcribed and translated into English. After coding the responses, themes and sub-themes were identified, followed by interpretations of responses. The findings showed that children of the street perceive to be highly susceptible for health risks such as HIV/AIDS, skin diseases, malaria, accidental injuries, lung cancer, and ‘Corella’. Whereas most of the health risks have been associated generally with the living situations of the children, engagement in risky behaviors such as unsafe sexual practices, addictions to drugs and other harmful substances, and sharing of sharp materials have also been reported to increase their vulnerability. The extent to which they perceive to be susceptible, the type of disease and its perceived cause were found to influence the preventive health behavior of the street children. The high risk perception among street children opened the way for individual and collective efforts of maintaining health and wellbeing which in turn facilitates interventions aimed at reintegrating street children into the society.

中文翻译：

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埃塞俄比亚亚的斯亚贝巴街头儿童对健康不良风险的感知易感性和应对措施

这项研究确定了埃塞俄比亚亚的斯亚贝巴街头儿童对健康风险的易感性和应对措施的看法。采用定性方法，通过对 22 名特意挑选的街头儿童进行深入访谈来收集数据。除了现场笔记外，还录制、转录并翻译成英语的音频。对响应进行编码后，确定主题和子主题，然后对响应进行解释。调查结果表明，街头儿童认为非常容易受到健康风险的影响，例如HIV爱滋病、皮肤病、疟疾、意外伤害、肺癌、以及'科雷拉'。尽管大多数健康风险通常与儿童的生活状况有关，但据报道，从事危险行为，如不安全的性行为、吸毒和其他有害物质成瘾以及共用尖锐材料也增加了他们的脆弱性。研究发现，他们认为易受影响的程度、疾病的类型及其感知的原因会影响街头儿童的预防性健康行为。街头儿童的高风险认知为个人和集体努力维护健康和福祉开辟了道路，这反过来又促进了旨在让街头儿童重新融入社会的干预措施。