Approval sheet

Tribhuvan University
Institute of Medicine
Department of Community Medicine and Family Health
Maharajgunj Campus
Kathmandu

This is to certify that Mr. Dinesh Kumar Chaudhary has prepared this research report entitled
“Glue Sniffing Among Street Children in Kathmandu Valley” under our guidance and
supervision.
The research has been carried out as partial fulfillment of the requirement for the Bachelor’s in
Public Health (BPH) of Maharajgunj Campus, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University,
Nepal.
This research has been accepted and recommended for approval.

Approved by

………………………………………. …………………………..
(Date)
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ritu Prasad Gartoulla
(Research Supervisor)
Department of Community Medicine and Family Health
Institute of Medicine

……………………………………… ..………………………..
(Date)
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bandana Pradhan
(BPH Coordinator)
Department of Community Medicine and Family Health
Institute of Medicine

…………………………………… ………………………….
(Date)
Prof. Chitra Kumar Gurung
(Head of Department)
Department of Community Medicine and Family Health
Institute of Medicine
Summary
I
Growing number of street children in urban areas especially in city like Kathmandu added
significant problems in the context of substance abuse especially glue sniffing. Several push and
pull factors are associated with the lives of large number of street children. Temptation to earn
more by getting opportunity and employment and live a better life in the city are pull factors
while maltreatment at home, lack of food, abusive and alcoholic parents are the main push
factors.
The study was carried out with the objective to identify the various factors which contribute
them to sniff glue, to suggest appropriate measures to the concerned authority in order to combat
glue sniffing among street children. This is a descriptive and cross-sectional study applying both
qualitative and quantitative approach. The data were collected form 42 respondents from 7
different kawads.
The mean age of street children range from 13-14 years age group. Most of the street children
(45.2 percent) fall under Brahmin/ Chhetri group followed by indigenous group (42.9 percent)
which includes Lama, Magar ,Tamang Gurung and Limbu. About 86 percent of the respondents
were completed primary level education. Domestic violence (40.5percent) followed by abuse &
exploitation (19 percent) were main reasons for leaving home and came to street.
Regarding the glue sniffing, almost ninety percent population were know about glue from their
friends who work and live on the street and about two third of population started to sniff glue
before reaching ten years. They used to sniff glue for pleasure (71.4 percent) followed by peer
influence (21.4 percent).easily availability and accessibility of glue from shop lead them use
such substance. This behavior late leads them to addiction and dependence. As children
unknowing suffering from glue sniffing, there is urgent need to launch social action programme
that generate against substance abuse.

Acknowledgement

II
I am very glad to have this opportunity to carry out this research on “Glue Sniffing Among Street
Children in Kathmandu Valley”. I would like to express my gratitude to all those who helped me
to make this study possible.
First and foremost, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Department of Community
Medicine and Family Health, Institute of Medicine for providing me an opportunity to carry out
this research work. I would like to thank Head of Department, Professor Chitra Kumar Gurung
and all my respected teachers of Department of Community Medicine and Family Health.
I would like to express my cordial thanks to my research supervisor Associate Professor Dr. Ritu
Prasad Gartoulla for his valuable guidance, suggestions and co-operation, which have greatly
helped me in the process of proposal development and completion of report.
I am grateful to subject teacher Prof. Chitra Kumar Gurung, Associate Professor Dr. Madhu Dixit
Devkota and Dr. Amod Poudyal for providing classes and clarify the main theme of the research.
I am very much indebted to CWC, Nepal, Mr. Tirtha Raj Rasaili of CWCN, Kathmandu, Mr.
Moti Lal Rai, and Mr. Hira Lal Giri who helped me in the process of data collection.
Last, but not least I would like to acknowledge all the people who helped me directly or
indirectly during the study especially to my friends Gyanu neupane, Santosh Kumar Sah and
Prakash Raj Sharma.

Dinesh Kumar Chaudhary

October 2008

Acronyms
AIDS Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome
BPH Bachelor in Public Health

III
CWCN Child Watabaran Centre, Nepal
CWIN Child Workers in Nepal Concerned Centre
CWS Child Welfare Society
HIV Human Immune Deficiency Virus
IOM Institute of Medicine
NGO Non-Governmental Organization
NHRC National health Research Council
STD Sexually Transmitted Disease
UN United Nation
UNICEF United Nations children fund
WHO World Health Organization

Table of Contents

Approval sheet I
Summary II
Acknowledgement III
Acronyms IV
IV
Table of Contents V
List of Tables VII
CHAPTER I – Introduction 1
1.1 Background 1
1.2 Statement of the Problem 2
1.3 Rationale of the study 3
1.4 Research Question 3
1.5 Objectives of the Study 3
1.6 Variables of the Study 3
1.7 Conceptual Framework 4
1.8 Operational Definitions 5
CHAPTER II – Literature Review 6
CHAPTER III – Research Methodology 8
3.1 Study design 8
3.2 Study method 8
3.3 Study area 8
3.4 Study population 8
3.5 Sampling frame 8
3.6 Sampling technique 8
3.7 Sample size 8
3.8 Tolls of data collection 8
3. 9 Data collection techniques 8
3.10 Eligibility Criteria 9
3.11 Data processing and Analysis 9
3.12 Validity and Reliability 9
3.13 Limitation of the Study 9
3.14 Ethical Consideration 10
CHAPTER IV -- Findings of the Study 11
CHAPTER V –Discussion 20
CHAPTER VI –Conclusion and Recommendation 22
References 24
Annexes 26
Questionnaire 26
V
 List of Tables

Table 1: Area wise distribution of street children 11

Table 2: Age wise distribution of respondent 11

Table 3: Caste wise distribution of respondent 12

Table 4: Level of education of the respondent 12
Table 5: Reasons for coming to street 12
Table 6: Reasons for leaving home 13
Table 7: Knowledge about glue sniffing 13
Table 8: Age of first experience of glue by single year 14
Table 9: Daily pattern of glue sniffing 14

VI
Table 10: Reasons for glue sniffing 15
Table 11: Reasons for addiction 15
Table 12: Levels of knowledge about harmful effects of glue sniffing 15
Table 13: Children who want to rid the addiction 16
Table 14: Perception for addiction 16

VII