Open AccessEpidemiology of child mental health problems in Gaza Strip
Author(s) -
Mousa Thabet Aa,
Panos Vostanis
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
eastern mediterranean health journal/eastern mediterranean health journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.442
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1687-1634
pISSN - 1020-3397
DOI - 10.26719/2001.7.3.403
Subject(s) - rutter , anxiety , epidemiology , aggression , incidence (geometry) , mental health , clinical psychology , psychology , medicine , psychiatry , demography , pediatrics , developmental psychology , physics , sociology , optics
The aim of this study was to detect the prevalence of behavioural and emotional problems among Palestinian children. The study enrolled 959 children from the Gaza Strip, 453 boys and 506 girls. Ages ranged from 6 to 12 years, with a mean of 8.81 years. Teachers completed the Rutter scale B2. The results showed that the case incidence in boys was 247 [54.5%], while in girls it was 215 [46.5%]. The differences between boys and girls were statistically significant, with boys rated by teachers with a significantly higher caseness. The teachers rated 48% of the children as at or above the cut-off level of 9. Factor analysis of the scale revealed the following three factors: antisocial behaviour-aggression, anxiety-fearfulness, and school phobia.