Psychiatric Morbidity among a Sample of Orphanage Children in Cairo

Abstract


Objective. This study identifies the prevalence of emotional and behavioral problems and the associated factors in orphanage children. Methods. This cross-sectional study was conducted in three private orphanages in Cairo. Two hundred sixty-five children of ages ranging from 6 to 12 years living in three different orphanages care systems were included in the study. A sociodemographic information form and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) were used. Children were clinically interviewed and psychiatric disorders were identified. Diagnoses were done according to the manual for diagnosis and statistics of mental disorder fourth version (DSMIV). A written formal consent from the director of social solidarity was obtained before inclusion in the study. Results. The prevalence of behavioral disturbances was 64.53% among those in institutional care and the most prominent psychiatric disorders were nocturnal enuresis (23.3%), attention deficit hyperkinetic disorder (ADHD) (19.62%), oppositional defiant disorder (17.36%). Age at first admission, causes of receiving institutional care, and moves 2 or more times between institutions were significantly associated with an increased risk of behavioral and emotional problems. Conclusion. Our study showed that children living in institutions are prone to suffer from psychiatric disorders. Stability of the caregiver acts as a protective variable.



Other articles

Orphans in orphanages of Kashmir “and their Psychological problems

The number of orphans is increasing day by day in India in general and in Jammu and Kashmir in particular. Besides, the…

Read more

Equipping Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) With Life Skills Education

Globally, children are experiencing instability, poverty, anxiety, and mental stress through exposure to unfavourable conditions.…

Read more

When the obvious brother is not there’’:Political and cultural contexts of the orphan challenge in northern Uganda

It is estimated that two million of Uganda’s children today are orphaned primarily due to AIDS. While recognising the immense…

Read more

DETERMINANTS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF CASH TRANSFER PROGRAMMES FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN TAITA TAVETA COUNTY, KENYA

According to UNICEF, in 2007, an estimated 145 million children between the ages of 0 and 17 years were orphaned, while…

Read more