Investigation of factors contributing to street begging and challenges associated with it: the case of street beggars in jimma town.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate factors contributing for street begging and its challenges with particular emphasis on beggars in Jimma town. Purposive sampling technique was used to select the participants. After the information was gathered using these instruments, the data were analyzed and described using qualitative approach such as thematic analysis and case description. Accordingly, poverty, health problems, disability, old age and related problems were found to be the major factors that pushed the study participants to engage in begging. The cardinal reasons for most of the different vulnerable categories of beggars to earn a meager living on the streets, church yards and other collective quarters of the city is also related to, chronic food shortage, insecurity, illiteracy and homelessness and unsanitary living conditions are some of the major challenges have been facing. So, it is better if the government or institutions help the beggars by giving them such as health care and job opportunity and also psycho-social treatment and all community should give attention on preventing and rehabilitating the street beggars.