Screening and Identification on Risk of Behavioral Problems among School Children by Teachers

Abstract

Introduction: Behavioral disorders are disruptive behaviors’ in a child that are not common and are inacceptable. These abnormal behaviors are usually associated with biological, family, academic factors as well as parenting practices, parenting styles and parent-child interaction.

Objectives: The current study was the initial phase of a 2-phase project. The objective of this study was the identification of risk of behavioral problems by the class teachers, among school children between 8 to 13 years of age. The findings enabled to provide a planned Parenting Program for parents of those children identified to be at risk of behavioral problems in the next phase.

Methods: Using a Structured Screening tool, totally 1202 school children from selected Government schools were screened by their class teachers.

Results: Findings revealed that, 129 school children were identified to be at risk of behavioral problems which revealed a prevalence rate of 10.7%. Majority of school children in the experimental group and control group exhibited externalizing signs than internalizing signs of behavioral problems. A smaller proportion of them had both externalizing and internalizing signs among both the groups.

Conclusions: Behavioral problems among children are on the rise. Use of appropriate parenting practices with good nurturing techniques will enable children to lead a healthy life and grow up to be productive adults in the society.