Behavior disturbance and psychiatric morbidity in a sample of abused Egyptian children

IntroductionConsequences related to child abuse represent a major public health problem with significant economic and human costs including health, social, behavioral and mental health problems for both children and adults. AimTo identify socio-demographic factors, behavioral disturbance as well as psychiatric morbidity in a sample of abused Egyptian children. Methodology1) General history with special focus on socio-demographic data and medical history, as well as current medical status, parental medical history and previous psychiatric illness. 2) Physical examination of children with inspection of regional injuries and required investigations when abuse is suspected. 3) Assessment using: A- The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview for Children (MINI-KID)- Arabic version. B- The Child Abuse and Negligence Scale to screen for child abuse. C- Child Behavior Symptoms Scale to subjectively assess child’s ability to adjust. D- Socio-economic level Scale for Family. E- General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) for the care givers to screen for psychiatric morbidity. ResultsThe abused children included 156 male (62.4%) and 94 female (37.6%) of which 161 (64.4%) were rural children (64.4%) and 89 (35.6%) were urban. Risk factors included earlier order of birth, abused parents with lower levels of education, lower grades of occupation, lower income, divorce, single parents, higher incidence of psychiatric illness, and substance abuse. Abused children had more pain and neurological complaints for a longer duration, wound scars often on the extremities (25 cases; 10%), psychiatric morbidities (53 cases; 21%), and more behavioral disturbance than non abused children (w 2=8.41, P=0.001). ConclusionAn earlier birth order, rural children, male sex, parents with low educational and income level, single parents, a history of psychiatric illness, and substance abuse are the risk factors of abuse. Psychiatric morbidities and behavioral disturbance are also higher in abused children.

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