Co-existing symptoms and risk factors among African school children with hyperactivity-inattention symptoms in Kinshasa, Congo.
The aims of the study were to explore hyperactivity-inattention (HI) symptoms and co-existing symptoms of emotional and behavioural problems among African school children and their relationship with health status, socio-demographic factors, and school performance.


METHODS
A case-control approach was used. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) was used to explore the co-existing emotional and behavioural symptoms and a semi-structured interview with parents to explore the socio-demographic variables. The sample included 357 school children at the age of 7-9 years: 183 children were defined as cases, defined by abnormal scores on the SDQ-HI scale and 174 randomly selected children among those with normal scores on the SDQ-HI were defined as controls. No age and gender differences were noticed between the two groups.


RESULTS
A younger maternal age at childbirth, and poor school performances were more frequent among cases than controls. Three quarter of the hyperactive-inattentive children had co-existing symptoms according to SDQ, the most common being conduct problems.


CONCLUSIONS
As in other cultures, co-existence of HI symptoms and emotional and behavioural problems was found in this African setting. Further validation of behavioural screening instruments in African children is called for.
Kashala
Espérance
E
Dept. of Neurology, Kinshasa University Hospital, Kinshasa, Dem. Rep of Congo. esperance_kashala@yahoo.com <esperance_kashala@yahoo.com>
Lundervold
Astri
A
Sommerfelt
Kristian
K
Tylleskär
Thorkild
T
Elgen
Irene
I
D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*