Table 2 Emotions expressed by providers in the health system with respect to street-connected children and youth in Kenya

 Fear

An unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain, or harm

24

Sometimes you don’t pity them because they can bully you (laughs) if no one is around or you cross where they stay and it’s dark, they can really torture you or steal from you. Sometimes I fear them. (Nurses)

 Pity

A feeling of sadness or sympathy for someone else’s unhappiness or difficult situation

‘I acknowledge your suffering’

21

Being on the streets means that they are needy, homeless and they don’t have basic needs nor anyone caring about their health. They don’t have a place to sleep and generally that is a sorry state. (Nurses)

 Ambivalence

The state of having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone

6

I have mixed feelings; I feel sad and I also feel nothing for them. It’s sad to see them there but another part of me doesn’t. (Clinicians)

 Annoyed

Slightly angry; irritated.

5

Because they are bothersome, they really want to interfere with what you are doing.

(Nurses, Counsellors, Social workers)

 Sad

Feeling or showing sorrow; unhappy.

3

They are suffering during the cold and rainy season; you have to feel sad because we are humans. (Clinicians)

 Shame

A painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behaviours.

3

Like him, I feel pity for some but for others I don’t because they come to the streets looking for something. For ladies I don’t feel any pity for them because sometimes when you see what they are doing you feel so ashamed. When you pass and see the boda boda men pushing with them you feel so ashamed, they should even try to work as house helps. (Clinicians)

 Disappointment

Sadness or displeasure caused by the non-fulfilment of one’s hopes or expectations

1

If I can add, I feel disappointed because ideally, they are not supposed to be on the streets, if we do a follow up everyone has a family associated with them and they are able to provide not necessarily all their needs. Because of failed values in the society, we have now abandoned them to fend for themselves and God will take care of the rest. (Clinicians)

 Dislike

To feel distaste for

1

I don’t like the big ones. (Clinicians)

 Dread

An emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)

1

I know of one who used to be our patient, I don’t know if I can say it was mental illness or being in the streets. We met at the market and he forced me to buy his bananas, yet they were rotten (laughs) he knew me because we had interacted once in the ward. Sometimes we meet and he blocks the way and people just pass by, no one helps. When he forced me to buy the bananas, I just gave him 100 shillings and left.

M: What would happen if you didn’t buy from him? R: I think he just wanted the money, robbery without violence (laughs) I still dread meeting him. Most of them when we meet, I just avoid them and go to another street. (Nurses)

 Frustrated

Feeling or expressing distress and annoyance resulting from an inability to change or achieve something

1

I feel like there is a big problem, it’s a wasted energy because these are people who can look for employment and do something to build their lives and also the economy at large because on the streets most of them engage in illegal things like abusing drugs and torturing people. You can imagine them channeling that energy into something constructive, even for themselves, it would be a better nation. Wasted life, wasted manpower. (Nurses)

 Hostile

Showing or feeling opposition or dislike; unfriendly. Or [anger feeling or showing strong annoyance, displeasure, or hostility; full of anger.]

1

When you talk to them especially at the parking lot in Zion mall they will tell you a lot of stories on why they are on the streets, when you ask them if they would go to children’s homes or they will run away, the answers they will give you will make you harsh again. (Clinicians)

 Sympathy

The feeling that you care about and are sorry about someone else’s trouble, grief, misfortune, etc.

‘I care about your suffering’

12

I sympathize with those who found themselves on the streets and don’t even know their families and I may even give them some cash because they have nowhere to go or something to eat. (Clinicians)

 Happy

Feeling or showing pleasure or contentment.

5

[How do you normally feel when they come for HIV testing?] … It’s a good feeling, at least they have some positivity in themselves, they care about themselves in as much as they are on the streets, they have to be safe. You have to talk more to them so that they can have knowledge.

(Nurses, Counsellors, Social workers)

 Empathy

The feeling that you understand and share another person’s experiences and emotions; the ability to share someone else’s feelings

4

I feel like they are my brothers because I once lived with them and I love them. If I see someone beating them like the askaris I usually feel bad because they are harassing them. If I meet them, I usually hug them no matter how smartly dressed I am and people always look at me wondering, they don’t know what makes me close with them. (Peer Navigator)

 Compassion

Concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others with a desire to alleviate it

3

We need to make them feel like they are humans too, don’t rehabilitate me yet you hate me [so much] that you can’t come close to me. Love your neighbor as you love yourself …. They also need love, if you rehabilitate me yet you hate me it won’t add any value. (Clinicians)