شیوع مشکلات رفتاری در کودکان شهر بیرجند

Background and Aim: In the present study, common behavioral disorders in children including habitual disorders, incontinence, stutter, and their relationship to familial problems at the beginning of school has been studied chiefly aiming at identifying incompatible children and even those at risk having weak performance at school setting and prompting their treatment. Materials and Methods: The study was a descriptive- analytical one whose population were all students of Birjand at the beginning of school, (1420), referring to register at the educational assessment bases. The method of sampling was purpose-based. The samples studied were children with one of the disorders such as incontinence, habitual disorders, and stuttering reported by parents. 110 of them were selected randomly. Data collection tool was a questionnaire having several sections including DSM III. Results: 32% of children referring to the assessment bases suffered, at least, from one of the above disorders. The rate of habitual disorders was 12.5%, nocturia 11.9%, and stuttering 7.6%. This proportion was also present in the selected sample, whose disorders had been confirmed, at approximately the same rates. There was a significant difference in the rate of disorders between the two genders. There was significant relationship between the age and education of father on one hand, and children’s behavioral disorders on the other; but there was none between those of mother’s and behavioral disorders of their children. Also, there was a significant relationship between children’s order of birth, family economy, addiction of parents, manner of the family's contact with the child, and behavioral disorders (p=0.05). Conclusion: Assessing the level of psychological health of children in the assessment bases and providing psychological health service at schools and also educating parents and instructors in order to prevent behavioral disorders and to diagnose and treat them timely seems necessary.