Journal article
Prevalence of behavioral disorders and attention deficit/hyperactive disorder among school going children in Southwestern Uganda
BMC psychiatry, v 19(1), pp 105-8
03 Apr 2019
PMID: 30943981
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Background: Disruptive Behavioral Disorders (DBDs) and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)are chronic, impairing, and costly child and adolescent mental health challenges which, when untreated, can result in disruptions in school performance, friendships and family relations. Yet, there is dearth of prevalence data on child and adolescent behavioral challenges within sub-Saharan Africa, including Uganda. This study aims to estimate the prevalence rate of behavioral challenges and ADHDamong young school going children and early adolescents (ages 8-13 at study enrollment), utilizing a school-based sample in southwest Uganda.
Methods: We present screening results from a 5-year scale-up study titledSMART Africa-Uganda (2016-2021), set across 30 public primary schools located in the greater Masaka region in Uganda, a region heavily impacted by poverty and HIV/AIDS. Specifically, we draw on screening data from caregivers of 2434 children that used well-established standardized measures that had been pre-tested in the region. These were: 1) oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and conduct disorder (CD) subscales of the Disruptive Behavior Disorders (DBD) scale; and 2) the Iowa Connors and Impairment scales. Slightly over half of the children in the sample were female (52%), with a mean age of 10.27 years.
Results: Of the 2434 participants screened for disruptive behaviors: 1) 6% (n=136) scored positive on ODD and 2% (n=42) scored positive on CD subscales of the DBD scale; 2) 9.61% (n=234), and 2.67% (n=65) were reported to have elevated symptoms of ODD and ADHD on the Iowa Connors caregiver report scale respectively. Twenty-five percent (n=586) of children were described by their caregivers as having experienced some form of impairment in at least four domains of the Impairment scale.
Conclusion: The results indicate the presence of behavioral challenges and ADHDamong school going children, aged 8-13years, in Uganda. Given the negative outcomes associated with behavioral challenges as children transition to adolescence and adulthood, detecting these emerging behavioral challenges early is critical in developing appropriate interventions. School settings could be considered as one of the contextually-relevant, culturally-appropriate, and non-stigmatizing venues to implement screening procedures and to detect emerging behavioral challenges and to make necessary referrals.
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Details
- Title
- Prevalence of behavioral disorders and attention deficit/hyperactive disorder among school going children in Southwestern Uganda
- Creators
- Apollo Kivumbi - Int Ctr Child Hlth & Dev, POB 1988,Circular Rd, Masaka, UgandaWilliam Byansi - Washington University in St. LouisChristopher Damulira - Int Ctr Child Hlth & Dev, POB 1988,Circular Rd, Masaka, UgandaPhionah Namatovu - Int Ctr Child Hlth & Dev, POB 1988,Circular Rd, Masaka, UgandaJames Mugisha - Kyambogo UniversityOzge Sensoy Bahar - Washington University in St. LouisMary M. McKay - Washington University in St. LouisKimberly Hoagwood - New York UniversityFred M. Ssewamala - Washington University in St. Louis
- Publication Details
- BMC psychiatry, v 19(1), pp 105-8
- Publisher
- Springer Nature
- Number of pages
- 8
- Grant note
- U19MH110001 / National Institute of Mental Health; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA; NIH National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics; A.J. Drexel Autism Institute
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000463729300004
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85063935892
- Other Identifier
- 991022065134504721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Psychiatry