Prevalence of psychiatric disorders among 4 to 14 year age group children in slums of Thiruvananthapuram Corporation

INTRODUCTION: Failure of early identification and timely intervention of psychological disorders adversely affect the development of child to healthy adult. This study was done to estimate the prevalence of psychiatric disorders among 4–14 years age group children in urban slums as well as to find out the socio-demographic factors associated with it. METHODS: A cross-sectional study with cluster sampling technique was conducted in urban slums of Thiruvananthapuram Corporation among 1029 participants. For the estimation of prevalence, CPMS was used and the socio-demographic factors were obtained using pretested interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaire. Data were analysed using proportion with 95% CI, Chi-square, odds ratio and logistic regression. RESULTS: Prevalence of childhood psychiatric disorders was 11.5% [95%CI (9.51-13.49)] and it was significantly associated with age (P =0.000), birth order (P =0.008), birth weight (P =.033), siblings number (P =.004) school performance (P =.000), peer status (P =.012), peer relation (P =.000), disease status (P =.000), maternal education (P =.006), paternal education (P =.000), maternal occupation (P =.000) and paternal occupation (P =.005), parental separation (P =.000), the person looking after the child (P =.000), marital disharmony (P =.000), history of alcohol intake (P =.000) and frequency of drinking (P =.000). By logistic regression, poor performance [odds ratio 12.79 (7.09–23.07)], disease status [odds ratio 4.83 (2.83–8.27)], problem in adjustment with peer [odds ratio 12.3 (1.97–77.55)], history of daily intake of alcohol in fathers [odds ratio 3.15 (1.87–5.29)] and offspring of unskilled mothers [odds ratio [2.07 (1.32–3.27)] constitute the predictors for these disorders. CONCLUSION: This study findings highlight prevalence and the association of childhood and adolescence psychiatric disorders with several socio-demographic factors, which needs consideration while planning for implementation of mental health programme in the community.