BEHAVIOURAL DISORDERS IN SCHOOL GOING CHILDREN IN URBAN AND RURAL AREAS OF BHUBANESWAR

Dr. Arpita Dube, Prof. Dr. Sasmita Devi Agrawal, Dr. Shubhankar Samal, Dr. Asit Mohan Mohapatro

Abstract


 Background - Behavioural  problems  in  school  going  children  are  on  a  rise.           Studies  done  in  this  field  reveal  that  the  prevalence  of  behavioural  problems  in  children  is  alarmingly high. Our  country,  India,  being  a  developing  country  has  a  huge  population  of  more   than  a  billion  and  out  of   which  a  significant  proportion  is  comprised  of  school  going  children.  This indicates a  sizeable  amount of  disease  burden on  the  society.

 Objectives -  The  study  was  carried  out  with  an  objective  of  assessing  the  prevalence  of  behavioural  disorders  in  school  going  children  in  urban  and  rural  areas  of  Bhubaneswar  and  to  compare  the  outcome  between the  two.

 Method -   A   school  based  cross-sectional  study  was  undertaken .  184  children  in   the  age-group  of  6 - 16  years  were  selected  by  appropriate  randomization. Parent  report  version  of  the  Child  behaviour  checklist  was  used.  The  data  thus  collected  was  analysed  using  appropriate  statistical  tests.

Results  and  Interpretation -  Out   of   the   total    sample   size  of  184  children,   65  children  had  CBCL  scores  on  or  above  the  cut-off,  including  both  rural  and  urban  areas. Thus,  the  overall  prevalence  rate  of  behavioural  disorders  in  school  going  children  of  Bhubaneswar,  was  found  to  be  35.32 %.  The  prevalence  of  behavioural  disorders   in  the  urban  schools  was   42.11 %  and   in  the  rural  schools  it   was   28.08%.    The  difference  in  the  prevalence  rates  was  found  to  be  statistically  significant.  The  mean  CBCL  score  was  found  to  be   higher  in  urban  school  children  in  comparison  to  the  rural  school  children  which  was  statistically  significant.  Children  in  the  age-group  of  12-16  years  had  a  statistically  significantly  higher  mean  CBCL score  than  the  children  in  the  age-group  of  6-11  years  in  the  urban  school.  On  analysing  the   pattern  of  behavioural  disorders,  it  was  found  that  internalising  problems  were  common  than  the  externalising  ones.  Anxiety  was  found  to  be  a  very  common  problem  in  children. 

Conclusion -  The  number  of  school  going  children  suffering  from  behavioural  diorders  in  rural  and  urban  areas  of  Bhubaneswar  is  very  high.  The  prevalence  is  higher  in  the  urban  areas  than  in  the  rural  areas. This  difference  can  be  attributed  to  the  differences  in  their  socio-cultural environments  and  family  background.  The  study  also  emphasises  on  the  need  of  periodic  screening  in  children  for  behavioural  disorders  and  establishment  of  school  mental  health  services.


Keywords


Behavioural disorders, Child behaviour checklist, urban area, rural area, anxiety, externalising problems, internalising problems.

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