[ Perception des enfants en situation de la rue relative à la consommation des substances toxiques en ville de Bunia ]
Volume 77, Issue 2, March 2025, Pages 274–285
Suga Savo Amos1, Amuda Baba Dieu-Merci2, Mukandu Basua Babintu Leyka3, Jacques Lofandjola4, and Anite Sivuni Nathalie5
1 Pédiatre, Institut Supérieur des Techniques Médicales de Bunia, RD Congo
2 Professeur Associé, Institut Supérieur des Techniques Médicales de Bunia (ISTM, Bunia), RD Congo
3 Institut Supérieur des Techniques Médicales de Bunia (ISTM - Bunia), RD Congo
4 Institut Supérieur des Techniques Médicales de Bunia (ISTM - Bunia), RD Congo
5 Institut Supérieur des Techniques Médicales de Bunia (ISTM - Bunia), RD Congo
Original language: French
Copyright © 2025 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
This study was conducted to explore the perceptions of street children regarding the consumption of toxic substances in the city of Bunia. The research employed an ethnographic approach and was supported by semi-structured interviews and focus groups. It involved a sample of 42 children. Data analysis was performed using content analysis techniques and thematic framework development. The study revealed that street children mentioned various types of toxic substances they use, including paste, alcohol, gasoline, cannabis, Valium (diazepam), and cigarettes. They also cited different reasons for their substance use, such as forgetting past events and avoiding thoughts of their parents. Additionally, the children identified several risks associated with substance use, including lung disease, liver disease, heart disease, and death. Therefore, it is crucial to consider implementing strict measures to prohibit substance use among these children, as it poses significant health risks.
Author Keywords: Children’s perception, street situation, relating to the consumption of toxic substances.
Volume 77, Issue 2, March 2025, Pages 274–285
Suga Savo Amos1, Amuda Baba Dieu-Merci2, Mukandu Basua Babintu Leyka3, Jacques Lofandjola4, and Anite Sivuni Nathalie5
1 Pédiatre, Institut Supérieur des Techniques Médicales de Bunia, RD Congo
2 Professeur Associé, Institut Supérieur des Techniques Médicales de Bunia (ISTM, Bunia), RD Congo
3 Institut Supérieur des Techniques Médicales de Bunia (ISTM - Bunia), RD Congo
4 Institut Supérieur des Techniques Médicales de Bunia (ISTM - Bunia), RD Congo
5 Institut Supérieur des Techniques Médicales de Bunia (ISTM - Bunia), RD Congo
Original language: French
Copyright © 2025 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
This study was conducted to explore the perceptions of street children regarding the consumption of toxic substances in the city of Bunia. The research employed an ethnographic approach and was supported by semi-structured interviews and focus groups. It involved a sample of 42 children. Data analysis was performed using content analysis techniques and thematic framework development. The study revealed that street children mentioned various types of toxic substances they use, including paste, alcohol, gasoline, cannabis, Valium (diazepam), and cigarettes. They also cited different reasons for their substance use, such as forgetting past events and avoiding thoughts of their parents. Additionally, the children identified several risks associated with substance use, including lung disease, liver disease, heart disease, and death. Therefore, it is crucial to consider implementing strict measures to prohibit substance use among these children, as it poses significant health risks.
Author Keywords: Children’s perception, street situation, relating to the consumption of toxic substances.
Abstract: (french)
Cette étude a été menée dans le but d’explorer la perception des enfants en situation de la rue relative à la consommation des substances toxiques en ville de Bunia. Cette recherche a été rendue possible grâce à l’utilisation de la méthode ethnographique et elle était soutenue par la technique d’interview semi-structurée et le focus group. Cette investigation a porté sur un échantillon de 42 enfants. Le traitement de données s’est fait par le biais de la technique d’analyse de contenu moyennant le développement de cadre thématique. Elle a abouti aux résultats selon lesquels les enfants en situation de la rue ont fait mention aux différents types de substances toxiques qu’ils utilisent comme patex et l’alcool, l’essence, le chanvre, le valium (diazepam), et la cigarette; les enfants en situation de la rue ont fait mention aux différentes raisons de la consommation de substances qu’ils utilisent notamment pour oublier les évènements passés et à ne plus penser à leurs parents; les enfants en situation de la rue ont fait mention aux différents risques de la consommation de substances qu’ils utilisent comme la maladie du poumon, la maladie du foie, la maladie du cœur et la mort. C’est pourquoi, il est très important d’envisager des mesures contraignantes interdisant à ces enfants de consommer; puisque c’est quand même dangereux sur leur santé.
Author Keywords: Perception enfants, situation de la rue, relative à la consommation des substances toxiques.
How to Cite this Article
Suga Savo Amos, Amuda Baba Dieu-Merci, Mukandu Basua Babintu Leyka, Jacques Lofandjola, and Anite Sivuni Nathalie, “Perception of street children regarding the consumption of toxic substances in the city of Bunia,” International Journal of Innovation and Scientific Research, vol. 77, no. 2, pp. 274–285, March 2025.
