1-minute News | Survey: 90% of children in subdivided flats have spinal issues

This Wednesday (Nov. 20) is World Children's Day. Currently, however, it is estimated that nearly 50,000 children and teenagers in Hong Kong live in inadequate housing such as subdivided flats.

During the period from September to November, the Society for Community Organization (SoCO) surveyed 503 underprivileged children and performed spinal checks on 234 children. Among the respondents, 55% were primary school students, while over 40% were secondary school students. The spinal health checks revealed that 90% of the participants had varying degrees of spinal problems. Approximately 75% of the neck assessments did not meet standards, and about 44% showed shoulder imbalances. Thirteen children were suspected of having scoliosis and needed referrals for detailed examinations.

The survey also found that 74% of the surveyed students did not have a desk or a fixed place to study at home, often doing homework on beds, stools, or dining tables. Nearly 30% of students had to bend over to do their homework, and 8.2% could not sit up straight at all when doing homework. 87% of the children surveyed felt that their poor living conditions hindered their quality of life and learning, with 60% reporting feelings of fatigue or physical discomfort.

Cheng, a single mother, lives with her family of four in a subdivided flat of about 100 square feet in Tsuen Wan. The cramped living environment has forced her 13-year-old daughter to do homework on a bunk bed. During the pandemic, she remained home for long periods, and at the age of nine, others noticed her uneven shoulders and curved back. After examination, her daughter was found to have scoliosis exceeding 100 degrees, which doctors described as "unheard of in Hong Kong." She has undergone three surgeries this year, with 20 screws inserted in her back for stabilization. "My daughter can't run or jump now... it's heartbreaking."

Wong lives with her son in a 70-square-foot subdivided flat in Sham Shui Po. Her 13-year-old son, Andy, mentioned that he has been doing homework on a bunk bed since he was young. As he grew taller, he could no longer sit up straight on the bed. "If I sit up straight, my head hits the wooden board, which is particularly painful, and I often experience back pain, as if someone were stepping on me," said Andy.

Wong hopes that their future home will at least have space for a desk so her son can do his homework more comfortably.

SoCO stated that the government should immediately provide support for children from low-income families. They suggested implementing a "child priority principle" to include children aged 3 to 12 in the priority list for public housing allocation. Additionally, they proposed an improvement assistance program for low-income residents living in subdivided flats and the establishment of more community lounges and learning centers for schoolchildren. They also recommended strengthening scoliosis screening for schoolchildren, providing funding for follow-up treatments, and increasing the number of beneficiaries for recreational activities.