The Plight of Street Children and Juvenile Delinquency in Urban Tanzania: A Review of Literature

In: Journal of sociology and social anthropology, Band 11, Heft 3-4

Abstract

ABSTRACT Tanzania as a developing country has been experiencing worsening impacts of the street children phenomenon in practically all its rapidly growing urban areas. Based on the review of literature, the causes of street children include general poverty, loss of family ties (due to polygamy, separation between parents), some unwelcome traditional practices (such as forced marriages, female genital mutilation), and the HIV/AIDS epidemic affecting families. In the street the children have worse living conditions since they have nowhere to live, no food and no protection. In a bid to fend for themselves they end up engaging in juvenile delinquency, causing havoc to the society. Therefore, a more detailed research is required and all stakeholders should pull their resources together so as to obtain a sustainable solution for the street children phenomenon in the country.