Nursing Publications
Title
Homelessness and Health in Adolescents
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-2007
Journal
Qualitative Health Research
Volume
17
Issue
9
First Page
1232
Last Page
1244
Abstract
Despite an abundance of resources, many of the world's wealthiest nations have a large homeless population. People at all stages of development are affected by this problem, but adolescents who are homeless face a unique set of challenges. In this critical narrative study the authors examined the experiences of homeless adolescents with particular attention to the role of gender and public policy, health experiences and perceptions, and barriers to health care services. Six girls and 7 boys participated in semistructured dialogic interviews. Their stories revealed that living without a home had a substantial impact on their health and wellness. The findings from this study support the need for health care professionals to work in collaboration with homeless youth so that more effective care that is sensitive to their unique health needs can be provided.
Notes
Published in: Qualitative Health Research, Vol. 17, No. 9, 1232-1244 (2007). DOI: 10.1177/1049732307307550