Journal of Science and Technology, 2(2): 85-94, July 2012 PATTERNS OF DELINQUENCY, DIETARY BEHAVIOR AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF THE ADOLESCENT WASTE PICKERS IN DHAKA CITY A.K. OBIDUL HUQ 1 , MOHAMMAD ASHRAFUL ALAM 2* and MOHAMMED JAHIRUL ISLAM 2 1 Department of Food Technology and Nutritional Science, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Santosh, Tangail-1902; 2 Department of Criminology and Police Science, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Santosh, Tangail-1902. Abstract A study was carried out among the 385 adolescent waste pickers in Dhaka city, who were spending their times on the streets, park or adjacent slum areas for their earnings. The majority (40%) of the waste pickers were belongs to 10-12 years. The prevalence rate of severely malnourished boys and girls were 39.3 and 46.9% respectively. But no relation was observed between nutritional status and severity of adolescent delinquency. The role of family has a positive impact on reducing delinquency among the respondent. An amazing relation was observed between waste pickers’ living status and patterns of delinquency. Adolescents living with their parents were relatively less involvement of delinquency rather than living alone. The reasons for living alone of waste pickers were mainly divorced/ separation of their parents (34.2%) and financial problems (27.8%). Most of them (45%) earn 51 to 75 taka daily whereas 41% earn 25-50 taka per day. The average income of waste pickers was only 68.45 taka per day. As a result, waste pickers cope with alternative means of survival strategy and that’s lead to involve in delinquency. In the context, sociological factors persuade them to commit delinquent behavior rather than biological factors. Key Words: Adolescence, Delinquency, Waste Pickers, Body Mass Index BMI). Introduction Adolescence (from Latin: adolescere meaning "to grow up") is a transitional stage of physical and mental human development generally occurring between poverty and legal adulthood (Macmillan Dictionary, 1981) but largely characterized as beginning and ending with the teenage stage (http://www.lifemodel.org/download/Model%20 Building % 20Appendix.pdf 2009). This period of development corresponds roughly to the period between the ages of 10 and 19 years, which is consistent with the World Health Organization’s definition of adolescence. They comprise 20% of the global population, and about 80% of them live in developing countries (WHO, 1986) like Bangladesh. This is an important period for physical, mental and sexual development. Children gain 20% and 50% of their adult height and weight respectively (Mahan, et. al., 1996). For girls this is the time when physical preparation for motherhood takes place (Dreizen, et. al., 1967). Adolescence delinquency refers to antisocial or illegal behavior by adolescents, for dealing with juveniles, such as juvenile detention centers. There are a multitude of different theories on the causes of crime, most cases if not all of which can be applied to know the causes of youth crime. The risk factors for adolescent delinquency are mother or father ever arrested, * Author for Correspondence : prodip_sust2005@yahoo.com