%0 Journal Article
%T The Role of Parenting in the Proliferation of Street Children: Evidence from River Oli Division, Arua City, Uganda
%A Laloyo Stella Apecu
%A Ndaru Zabibu
%J Open Access Library Journal
%V 13
%N 2
%P 1-14
%@ 2333-9721
%D 2026
%I Open Access Library
%R 10.4236/oalib.1114827
%X Street children remain a persistent social and child£¿protection challenge in many urban areas of Sub£¿Saharan Africa. This study examined the role of parenting in the proliferation of street children in River Oli Division, Arua City, Uganda. Using a qualitative case£¿study design, data were collected from 30 street children through in£¿depth interviews and focus group discussions, alongside parents and community leaders. Thematic analysis revealed that inadequate parenting characterized by poverty, neglect, abuse, limited supervision, and weak parent-child bonding significantly contributed to children¡¯s transition to street life. Push factors included hunger, poverty, domestic violence, orphan-hood, and mistreatment by caregivers, while pull factors included perceived economic opportunities, peer networks, and relative au-tonomy on the streets. The study concludes that parenting practices are central to understanding and addressing the street£¿children phenomenon. Strengthening family£¿based interventions, community child£¿protection sys-tems, and parental economic empowerment is critical to reducing children¡¯s vulnerability to street life.<br />
%K Parenting
%K Street Children
%K Child Protection
%K Poverty
%K Uganda
%U http://www.oalib.com/paper/6885532