The prevalence of behavioural problems amongst homeless primary school children in an outer London borough: a feasibility study.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the prevalence of behavioural problems amongst homeless primary school-age children in an outer London borough.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study of homeless primary school children and permanently housed control children.


METHODS
Selected primary schools in an outer London borough.


METHODS
Children from non-refugee families officially accepted as homeless by the local authority, and housed controls from the same schools.


METHODS
Rutter behavioural rating scale.


RESULTS
Fewer homeless children (38%, 18 of 48) than housed (88%, 50 of 57) were born in the UK, or spoke English at home. Only 19 (40%) of the fathers of homeless children compared with 43 (75%) of housed children's fathers lived with them. Some 49% of homeless children's scores suggested a behavioural problem, compared with 11% of controls. Altogether, 94% of homeless and 100% of housed children were registered with a general practitioner.


CONCLUSIONS
High levels of behavioural problems were found in homeless children. With numbers of homeless children expected to rise in the 1990s this finding merits urgent attention.
Amery
J
J
Centre for International Child Health, Institute of Child Health, London.
Tomkins
A
A
Victor
C
C
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons; D006801:Humans; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors