Prevalence of mental and behavioural disorders in Ethiopian children.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the magnitude of specific mental and behavioural disorders in children in Butajira, southern Ethiopia.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey.


METHODS
Butajira district, southern Ethiopia.


METHODS
Amharic version of the diagnostic instrument for children and adolescents was used to interview parents of 1,477 children.


RESULTS
Of the surveyed children 3.5% had at least one or more mental or behavioural disorders. The most frequent diagnoses were anxiety disorders (1.6%), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (1.5%) and disruptive behaviour disorders (1.5%). Mood disorders (1%) and elimination disorders (0.8%) were relatively less common.


CONCLUSIONS
The study shows that specific mental and behavioural disorders in these children are significant public health problems.
Ashenafi
Y
Y
Department of Community Health, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia.
Kebede
D
D
Desta
M
M
Alem
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence