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Health and access to care: Perspectives of homeless youth in Baltimore City, U.S.A

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  • Ensign, Jo
  • Gittelsohn, Joel

Abstract

Homeless youth suffer from high rates of health problems, yet little is known about their perceptions of or context for their own health issues. In this study, a combination of qualitative techniques from participatory rural appraisal and rapid assessment procedures was used to investigate the perceptions of health needs of shelter-based youth in Baltimore, ML in the U.S.A. The most common youth-identified health problems included STDs, HIV/AIDS, pregnancy, depression, drug use and injuries. These correlate well with more objective health status data for the same youth. The youth spoke of environmental safety threats of violence and victimization by adults, as well as racism and sexism in their lives. Youth reported that trusted adult figures such as grandmothers are important sources of health advice. Many homeless youth from less than ideal family situations remain in contact with and continue to seek advice from parents and other family members. Health interventions with urban street youth need to acknowledge the primacy of the social context for these youth, as well as the reality of violence as a daily health threat.

Suggested Citation

  • Ensign, Jo & Gittelsohn, Joel, 1998. "Health and access to care: Perspectives of homeless youth in Baltimore City, U.S.A," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 47(12), pages 2087-2099, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:47:y:1998:i:12:p:2087-2099
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Mubarak Aldosari & Yusnidah Ibrahim & Norlida Binti Abdul Manab & Ebrahim Mohammed Al-Matari & Ebrahim Mohammed Al-Matari & Eqab Aiyadh Alotaibi, 2016. "Linking Cooperative Health Insurance Service Characteristics to Expatriates’ Satisfaction: Mediating Role of Customer Knowledge," International Review of Management and Marketing, Econjournals, vol. 6(4), pages 1013-1019.
    2. Mubarak Aldosari & Yusnidah Ibrahim & Norlida Binti Abdul Manab & Ebrahim Mohammed Al-Matari & Ebrahim Mohammed Al-Matari & Eqab Aiyadh Alotaibi, 2016. "Linking Cooperative Health Insurance Service Characteristics to Expatriates’ Satisfaction: Mediating Role of Customer Knowledge," International Review of Management and Marketing, Econjournals, vol. 6(4), pages 1013-1019.
    3. Hickler, Benjamin & Auerswald, Colette L., 2009. "The worlds of homeless white and African American youth in San Francisco, California: A cultural epidemiological comparison," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(5), pages 824-831, March.
    4. Slesnick, Natasha & Dashora, Pushpanjali & Letcher, Amber & Erdem, Gizem & Serovich, Julianne, 2009. "A review of services and interventions for runaway and homeless youth: Moving forward," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(7), pages 732-742, July.
    5. Slesnick, Natasha & Zhang, Jing & Brakenhoff, Brittany, 2017. "Personal control and service connection as paths to improved mental health and exiting homelessness among severely marginalized homeless youth," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 121-127.
    6. Aparicio, Elizabeth M. & Phillips, Danielle R. & Okimoto, Trisha & Cabral, Megan Kaleipumehana & Houser, Carla & Anderson, Kent, 2018. "Youth and provider perspectives of Wahine Talk: A holistic sexual health and pregnancy prevention program developed with and for homeless youth," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 467-473.
    7. Mubarak Aldosari & Yusnidah Ibrahim & Norlida Binti Abdul Manab & Ebrahim Mohammed Al-Matari & Ebrahim Mohammed Al-Matari & Eqab Aiyadh Alotaibi, 2016. "Towards a Better Understanding of Foreign Workers’ Satisfaction with Cooperative Health Insurance: The Role of Service Characteristics, Financing, Choice of Plan and Customer Knowledge," International Review of Management and Marketing, Econjournals, vol. 6(2), pages 270-276.
    8. Aviles, Ann M. & Grigalunas, Nicole, 2018. "“Project awareness:” Fostering social justice youth development to counter youth experiences of housing instability, trauma and injustice," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 229-238.
    9. Dworsky, Amy & Meehan, Patrick, 2012. "The parenting experiences of homeless adolescent mothers and mothers-to-be: Perspectives from a shelter sample," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(10), pages 2117-2122.
    10. O'Reilly, Michelle & Taylor, Helen C. & Vostanis, Panos, 2009. ""Nuts, schiz, psycho": An exploration of young homeless people's perceptions and dilemmas of defining mental health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(9), pages 1737-1744, May.

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