Prevalence of sleep problems and habits in a sample of Saudi primary school children.
BACKGROUND
Sleep problems in children vary not only with age, but also with ethnic and sociocultural background. No research has been conducted to assess sleep problems in Saudi elementary school children. This study surveyed parents (or guardians) abouttheir elementary school children's sleep to assess the prevalence of certain sleep problems.


METHODS
The study population comprised boys and girls attending regular public elementary schools in all grades and was conducted during springtime of the year 1999. A questionnaire inquiring about demographic data, specific sleep problems and habits and home environment was distributed and completed bythe parents or guardians.


RESULTS
A total of 1012 complete questionnaires were included in the analysis. The sample comprised 511 boys (50.5%) and 501 girls (49.5%). The mean age was 9.5+/-1.9 years, ranging from 5 to 13 years. Daytime fatigue was the most prevalent sleep problem (37.5%) followed by bedtime resistance (26.2%), difficulty rising in the morning during weekdays (20.7%), and sleep-onset delay (11.8%). Cosleeping with parents was reported in 12.4% of children. The study revealed some differences between boys and girls. Napping during the daytime was reported in 40.8% of children.


CONCLUSIONS
The study showed that sleep problems are prevalent among Saudi elementary school children. Moreover, the study shed some light on sleep habits and practices in this age group in Saudi Arabia, like the high prevalence of daytime napping.
BaHammam
Ahmed
A
College of Medicine, Sleep Disorders Center, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. ashammam2@yahoo.com
AlFaris
Eiad
E
Shaikh
Shaffi
S
Bin Saeed
Abdulaziz
A
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004775:Enuresis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008029:Lighting; D008297:Male; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013690:Television / Q000706:statistics & numerical data