"Objective: This study presents the characteristics of a group of children working in the streets of Latin America and explores the prevalence and determinants of workplace abuse and economic exploitation among them. Methods: Cross-sectional study of 584 children working in the streets of Bogotá (Colombia), Lima (Peru), Quito (Ecuador), and Sao Paulo (Brazil). Descriptive analyses and multivariate logistic regressions were conducted, with workplace abuse and economic exploitation regressed on occupational and sociodemographic variables.Results: Children were on average 11.8 years-old, 66% attended school, 37% had social security affiliation, 7% lived in the streets, and 71% resided with their mothers. One quarter of the sample reported having been abused in the streets and almost two-thirds reported suffering economic exploitation. Number of hours working in the streets, occupational injury, and truancy were identified as significant predictors of workplace abuse. Each additional hour of children's work in the streets increased workplace abuse risk by 1%; suffering an occupational injury increased the risk by 70%, and children attending school were 48% less likely to report abuse. The factors predicting economic exploitation were involvement in begging activity, maternal coresidence, age, living in the streets, and having social security affiliation. Beggars were almost 5 times more likely to suffer economic exploitation and children living with their mothers were 2.6 times more likely to be exploited. Each additional year of age decreased the risk of exploitation by 10%. Living in the streets and having social security affiliation decreased risk of exploitation by 65% and 40%, respectively.Conclusions: This study provides evidence of abuse and economic exploitation suffered by children working in the streets of Latin American cities. Predictors of these negative outcomes, such as number of hours that children work in the streets, truancy and the lack of social security affiliation, are also highlighted. Recommendations are presented for modification of policies and practice to improve consequent outcomes."

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