title: Trends and factors associated with mental health problems among children and adolescents in Malaysia.
abstract: Studying trends in mental health morbidity will guide the planning of future interventions for mental and public health services. To assess the trends in mental health problems among children and adolescents aged 5 through 15 years in Malaysia from 1996 to 2011, data from the children's mental health component of three population-based surveys was analysed using a two-stage stratified sampling design. Mental health problems were assessed using the Reporting Questionnaire for Children. The prevalence of mental health problems among children and adolescents aged 5 through 15 years showed an increasing trend from 13.0% (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 11.5-14.6) in 1996 to 19.4% (95% CI: 18.5-20.3) in 2006 and 20.0% (95% CI: 18.8-21.3) in 2011. In 2011, male children and adolescents and those who were in less affluent families were significantly associated with mental health problems. The findings indicate that even though mental health problems among children and adolescents in Malaysia are increasing, the rate of increase has decreased in the past five years. Socially and economically disadvantaged groups were most vulnerable to mental health problems.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Public Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia , Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia.
authors.forename: NoorAni
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Institute for Public Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia , Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia.
authors.forename: Fadhli
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: MuhdYusoff
authors.affiliation: Sarawak General Hospital , Kuching , Malaysia.
authors.forename: Selva
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ratnasingam
authors.affiliation: Tuanku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital , Klang , Malaysia.
authors.forename: Fauziah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mohamed
authors.affiliation: Pandamaran Health Clinic , Klang , Malaysia.
authors.forename: Nazrila Hairizan
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Nasir
authors.affiliation: Institute for Public Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia , Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia.
authors.forename: Syafinaz
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: MohdSallehuddin
authors.affiliation: Institute for Public Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia , Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia.
authors.forename: Balkish
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: MahadirNaidu
authors.affiliation: Family Health and Development Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia , Putrajaya , Malaysia.
authors.forename: Rohana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ismail
authors.affiliation: Institute for Public Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia , Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia.
authors.forename: Tahir
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aris
keywords: Malaysia; National Health and Morbidity Survey; RQC; mental health; trend