Abstract

BALLESTER ARNAL, Rafael; LEGAZ SANCHEZ, Eva; SALMERON SANCHEZ, Pedro  and  GIL LLARIO, Mª Dolores. Behavioral Disorders Prevalence in Pediatrics Primary Care: Region of Valencia, Spain, 2009. Rev. Esp. Salud Publica [online]. 2012, vol.86, n.2, pp.199-210. ISSN 2173-9110.

Background: Childhood and adolescence mental health needs a proper monitoring. The aim is to estimate behavioral disorders prevalence in paediatric primary care in the Region of Valencia (Spain) and to describe its distribution according to sex, age and impact areas. Methods: Cross-sectional research. Region of Valencia's Health Surveillance Network observed along 2009 the behavioral disorders in patients primary health care between 3 and 14 years old. Prevalence and confidence intervals at 95% were calculated. Chi-square test (p<0,05) was calculated to explore the differences in behavioral disorders according to sex, age and impact areas. Results: Total cases notified were 626. Out of participants 70% were boys. The estimate overall prevalence for the population between 3-14 years old was 351 per 10.000 (IC_95%: 330-372), 491(IC_95%:456-525) in boys and 202 (IC_95%:179-226) in girls. Hyperactivity was the highest prevalence (85 per 10.000, CI: 74-95). The 7-10 age grup years old had the highest prevalence (428 per 10.000, IC_95%:367-489). The impact in the family was 69,4% in boys and 65,9% in girls (p<0,5). Conclusions: The Behavioral Disorders prevalence found in paediatrics patients in primary care was important, showed different epidemiologic profile as function of age and sex, and proved the family was the principal impact area.

Keywords : Mental Health; Child; Adolescent; Primary Care; Epidemiology; Population Surveillance; Prevalence.

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