The prevalence and predictors of behavioral and emotional problems in a sample of Egyptian children attending pediatric out-patient clinics / Heba Abdelrahman Abdelsalam ; Supervised Maha Korany Mohamed Ali Aboukhadra , Dalia Ahmed Mohamed , Sally Kamal Ibrahiem Ishak

Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Pediatrics

Background: the behavioral and emotional disorders among children and youth interfere with normal development and functioning that cause many burdens for them, their families and the nation. Objectives: This study was conducted to assess the prevalence and possible predictors of behavioral and emotional problems in a sample of Egyptian children attending pediatric out-patient clinics. Method: In this cross-sectional study, 245 children attending the pediatric out-patient clinics were recruited according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The children's behavioral and emotional problems were assessed by the parent form of the Arabic version of the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire. Results: Seventy child (28.6%) had abnormal total difficulty score, 95 child (38.8%) had conduct problems, 85 child (34.7%) had emotional problems, 67 child (27.3%) had peer problems, 49 child (20%) had hyperactivity problems and 40 child (16.3%) had abnormal prosocial behavior. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age, sex, total sleep duration, health care domain and family domain were significantly related to behavioral and emotional problems. Conclusion: Behavioral and emotional problems are common among this sample and this study suggests an association between age, gender difference, total sleep duration, family domain, and health care domain and behavioral and emotional problems

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