OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to determine the prevalence rate of conduct disorder among primary school pupils in Ikot-Ekpene, Southern Nigeria.
METHODS: Vanderbilt attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnostic teacher rating scale for oppositional defiant disorder/conduct disorder was administered on 1174 pupils aged 6-12 years drawn from 12 primary schools in Ikot-Ekpene, Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria. Parents of the pupils with conduct disorder completed a pro forma on their sociodemographic characteristics.
RESULTS: One hundred and fifteen of the studied 1174 pupils had conduct disorder with a prevalence rate of 9.8%. A greater number of males had conduct disorder with a male-to-female ratio of 4.75:1. Children from upper social class comprised the highest number with conduct disorder. Younger children (6-9 years) were more affected (76.5%) than the older ones. The predominant symptom exhibited by the children was difficult temperament. Comorbidities associated with conduct disorder were ADHD, anxiety disorder, and depression.
CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence rate of conduct disorder is within the global range in our environment and tends to affect the younger children. Policy should be put in place to screen these children at school entrance so as to render appropriate health intervention.
■这项研究的目的是确定Ikot-Ekpene小学生品行障碍的患病率,尼日利亚南部。
■范德比尔特注意缺陷多动障碍(ADHD)诊断教师对Ikot-Ekpene的12所小学的1174名6-12岁学生进行了对立反抗障碍/品行障碍评定量表,Akwa-IbomState,尼日利亚。品行障碍学生的父母完成了他们的社会人口统计学特征的备考。
■所研究的1174名学生中有115名患有品行障碍,患病率为9.8%。更多的男性患有品行障碍,男女比例为4.75:1。来自上层社会阶级的儿童中品行障碍的人数最多。年龄较小的儿童(6-9岁)比年龄较大的儿童受影响更大(76.5%)。儿童表现出的主要症状是困难的气质。与行为障碍相关的合并症是ADHD,焦虑症,和抑郁症。
■在我们的环境中,品行障碍的患病率在全球范围内,并倾向于影响年幼的儿童。应制定政策,在学校入学时对这些儿童进行筛查,以进行适当的健康干预。