TY - JOUR
T1 - Prevalence of emotional and behavioural problems among primary school children in Karachi, Pakistan - Multi informant survey
AU - Syed, Ehsan Ullah
AU - Hussein, Sajida Abdul
AU - Haidry, Sana E.Zehra
N1 - Funding Information:
Role of Funding Source: This study was funded by Sindh
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - Objective: To determine emotional and behaviourable problem among school going children in Pakistan. Methods: A cross sectional survey of school children of certain towns within Karachi metropolitan area, aged 5 to 11 years during 1st half of 2006. SDQ was filled out by parents and school teachers for the same children. Demographic data of parents, teachers and children were also collected using a separate performa. Results: 7 private and 8 community schools agreed to participate. 1488 consent forms were sent to 700 parents of private school and 788 parents of community school children. A total of 675 parents agreed to participate in the study. The response rate was 45.3%. Assessment of children's mental health was conducted using Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Parents rated 34.4% of children as falling under the "abnormal category on SDQ, slightly higher estimates 35.8% were reported by the teacher. The findings suggest a striking difference between the informants' ratings as well as gender wise difference in prevalence of common child mental health problems. Conclusion: In the present study prevalence of child mental health problems was higher than reported in studies from other countries. There was also a gender difference in prevalence; boys had higher estimates of behavior/externalizing problems, whereas emotional problems were more common amongst females. There is a need for developing programs to train, sensitise and mobilize teachers and parents regarding child's psychological, emotional and behavioral problems.
AB - Objective: To determine emotional and behaviourable problem among school going children in Pakistan. Methods: A cross sectional survey of school children of certain towns within Karachi metropolitan area, aged 5 to 11 years during 1st half of 2006. SDQ was filled out by parents and school teachers for the same children. Demographic data of parents, teachers and children were also collected using a separate performa. Results: 7 private and 8 community schools agreed to participate. 1488 consent forms were sent to 700 parents of private school and 788 parents of community school children. A total of 675 parents agreed to participate in the study. The response rate was 45.3%. Assessment of children's mental health was conducted using Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Parents rated 34.4% of children as falling under the "abnormal category on SDQ, slightly higher estimates 35.8% were reported by the teacher. The findings suggest a striking difference between the informants' ratings as well as gender wise difference in prevalence of common child mental health problems. Conclusion: In the present study prevalence of child mental health problems was higher than reported in studies from other countries. There was also a gender difference in prevalence; boys had higher estimates of behavior/externalizing problems, whereas emotional problems were more common amongst females. There is a need for developing programs to train, sensitise and mobilize teachers and parents regarding child's psychological, emotional and behavioral problems.
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U2 - 10.1007/s12098-009-0072-7
DO - 10.1007/s12098-009-0072-7
M3 - Article
C2 - 19390811
AN - SCOPUS:69849087529
SN - 0019-5456
VL - 76
SP - 623
EP - 627
JO - Indian Journal of Pediatrics
JF - Indian Journal of Pediatrics
IS - 6
ER -