title: Psychiatric morbidity in paediatric primary care clinic in Ilorin, Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We observed poor attendance at the recently established child and adolescent psychiatric clinic in our hospital, despite our sensitization efforts prior and after the establishment of the unit. The study was conducted at the paediatric clinics of the Family medicine/General out-patient department (GOPD) of university of Ilorin teaching hospital (UITH), Ilorin.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The study was aimed at finding out the prevalence, types and associated factors of psychiatric disorders among children attending the primary care unit of University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH).
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional two stage study in which 350 children aged 7-14 years were screened with the parents' version of Child Behaviour Questionnaire or Rutter Scale A2. Of these, a stratified sub-sample of 157 (consisting of all high scorers and ~30% of low scorers, randomly selected) were interviewed jointly with their mothers using the children's version of the schedule for affective disorders and schizophrenia (Kiddie-SADS-PL or K-SADS-PL).
  
  
  RESULTS
  An overall prevalence of 11.4% (40 of 350) for the presence of one or more DSM IV disorders was obtained. Enuresis with significant distress was present in 6.0%, behavioural disorders of Conduct and ADHD in 3.1%, emotional disorders of depression and anxiety in 1.7% and mental retardation in 0.6%. The presence of chronic medical illness and frequent hospital visits were factors associated with risk of having psychiatric disorders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study supports earlier ones in Nigeria that child psychiatric disorders are common in hospital patients, although differences may exist in pattern and types. It emphasizes the need to screen hospital patients for morbidity to ensure early detection and treatment of psychiatric disorders in childhood. This is to limit the period of illness and avoid its adverse effects on growth and development of the children and to reduce the risk of carrying over remediable problems in childhood into adulthood.
authors: Department of Behavioural Sciences, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria.
authors: Olatunji A
authors: OA
authors: Abiodun
authors: Mosunmola F
authors: MF
authors: Tunde-Ayinmode
authors: Olushola A
authors: OA
authors: Adegunloye
authors: Babatunde A
authors: BA
authors: Ayinmode
authors: Dauda
authors: D
authors: Sulyman
authors: Ngozichukwu N
authors: NN
authors: Unaogu
authors: Rasak O
authors: RO
authors: Saliu
authors: Sunday
authors: S
authors: Sajo
authors: Rilwan A
authors: RA
authors: Salami
authors: Mohammed K
authors: MK
authors: Jimba
authors: Taiwo
authors: T
authors: Agbabiaka
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires