Magnitude of Mental and Behavioral Disorders in Children and Adolescents, Butajira, South Ethiopia
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Date
1998-12
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
In order to explore the magnitude of spec ific mental and behavioural disorders and their
socio-demographic correlates in children, a study was conducted in Butajira, Southern
Ethiopia, using the Amharic version of the Diagnostic Instrument for Children and
Adolescents (OICA). A total of 1477 children were assessed; 3.5 % of the study subjects
had at least one or more mental or behavioural disorders. The most frequent diagnoses
were anxiety disorder (1.6%), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (1.5%);
and disruptive behavioural di sorder ( 1.5%). Mood disorders (1%) and elimination
di sorders (0.8%) were re latively less common. Residence in urban area was associated
with ADHD:OR(95 % CI) = 3.03 (1. 11-8.04).ADHD was also associated with increasing
age, having a single parent, or a chronica lly sick family member: OR (95 % CI) = 3.32
( 1.15-10.33), 4.63(1.25-1 7.3 1), 5.56(2.16-1 4.16), respectively. Disruptive behavioural
disorders were significantly assoc iated wi th increasing age, parents not li ving together,
severe financial problem and with the presence of chronical ly sick fam ily member OR
(95 % CI) =4.41(1.40-15.45),4.63(1.05- 17.31),2.77(1.05,7.12), and 8.15 (3.23,20.56),
respective ly. Living in a house with more than one room was also significantly but
inversely, associated with anxiety disorder: OR(95%CI)=0.39 (0.16,0.95). Mood
disorders were associated with the presence of parents not living together, financial
prob lem and chroni ca lly s ick family member: OR (95 % CI ) = 4.44 (1.00, 18 .57), 5.57
(1.82, 17.20), and 12.12(3.89,38.84), respective ly. Enuresis was found to have no
statistically significant association with any of the variab les mentioned. Specific mental
and behavioural disorders in chi ldren were fo und significant public health problems
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Keywords
Socio-demographic correlates in children