Abu-Nazel, M., Kharboush, I., Mortada, M., Kamal, M., Reda, A., Tahio, A. (2000). Behavioral and Emotional Problems among Pre-school children enrolled in Kindergartens in Alexandria. Journal of High Institute of Public Health, 30(2), 337-368. doi: 10.21608/jhiph.2000.303252
Mervat W. Abu-Nazel; Ibrahim F. Kharboush; Mona M. Mortada; Mofida M. Kamal; Aida A. Reda; Amira F. Tahio. "Behavioral and Emotional Problems among Pre-school children enrolled in Kindergartens in Alexandria". Journal of High Institute of Public Health, 30, 2, 2000, 337-368. doi: 10.21608/jhiph.2000.303252
Abu-Nazel, M., Kharboush, I., Mortada, M., Kamal, M., Reda, A., Tahio, A. (2000). 'Behavioral and Emotional Problems among Pre-school children enrolled in Kindergartens in Alexandria', Journal of High Institute of Public Health, 30(2), pp. 337-368. doi: 10.21608/jhiph.2000.303252
Abu-Nazel, M., Kharboush, I., Mortada, M., Kamal, M., Reda, A., Tahio, A. Behavioral and Emotional Problems among Pre-school children enrolled in Kindergartens in Alexandria. Journal of High Institute of Public Health, 2000; 30(2): 337-368. doi: 10.21608/jhiph.2000.303252
Behavioral and Emotional Problems among Pre-school children enrolled in Kindergartens in Alexandria
1High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Egypt
2Ministry of Health, Egypt
Abstract
The identification of children with emotional and behavioral problems in the community has important implications for children, families and for the community, both in terms of current disability and future disorder. The aims of the present study are to estimate prevalence rate of behavioral and emotional problems among pre-school children attending kindergartens in Alexandria and to investigate some child, familial and maternal risk factors, that might affect children's behavioral and emotional adjustment. This work was conducted on two stages. Firstly, screening of a representative sample of preschool children attending kindergartens in Alexandria [n= 872], for behavioral/or emotional problems, using the Child Behavior Checklist [CBCL] that was completed by both parents and teachers. Secondly, a case-control study included 60 child-mother pairs of maladjusted children recruited in screening phase and an equally matched control group for age and sex. Children of case-control study were subjected to anthropometric assessment. Mothers were interviewed and subjected to the Arabic version of short-form Beck Depression Inventory [BDI]. Results of the present work revealed that, nearly one tenth of surveyed children were behaviorally and/or emotional disturbed according to parent's reports as well as teacher's reports. However, parents' and teacher's reports were concordant in only 1.6% of children. Boys rated significantly higher than girls on encopresis and cruelty to animals [p= 0.0004, p= 0.0006], while the reverse was true on anxious, anorexia and nail biting [p = 0.002, p= 0.005, p= 0.004]. On univariate analysis several child, familial and maternal risk factors were significantly associated with occurrence of behavioral and emotional problems among pre-schoolers. However, after adjustment using multiple regression analysis, significant predictors were mostly psychosocial except for abnormal delivery [OR=15.14] and exposure to acute infections [OR=14.58]. Psychosocial predictors included: being unwanted child [OR=16.19], facing recent significant life events [OR=7.27], as well as being a child of a depressed mother [OR=16.57], having a mother who suffers daily life stresses [OR-6.62], or being a child in a family with poor child-sibs relationship [OR=2.05]. Tackling the problem is a challenging issue for both maternal and child health services and school health services.
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