ABSTRACT

Nicaragua is one of the countries in Latin America with lowest levels of development. In Nicaragua, people in a homeless situation are one of the most socially excluded groups, and there is a lack of data regarding their characteristics, circumstances, and needs. This study examines the state of health, disability, and substance use among people living homeless (n = 68) in the city of León (Nicaragua). Sixty percent of the homeless people contacted responded to a questionnaire which was administered with the respondents by means of an interview. The findings showed that people living homeless in León had very negative states of health and disability, worse than those observed in other socially excluded groups in the same city and homeless people in more developed countries. The interviewees also presented a high level of substance abuse – mainly of alcohol and inhaled glue.

摘要

尼加拉瓜是拉丁美洲发展水平最低的国家之一。在尼加拉瓜，无家可归者是最受社会排斥的群体之一，缺乏关于他们的特征、环境和需求的数据。本研究调查了莱昂（尼加拉瓜）市无家可归者（n = 68）的健康、残疾和物质使用状况。所联系的无家可归者中有 60% 对问卷做出了回应，该问卷通过访谈的方式对受访者进行了管理。研究结果表明，莱昂的无家可归者的健康和残疾状况非常糟糕，比在同一城市的其他社会排斥群体和更发达国家的无家可归者中观察到的还要糟糕。