Prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders and mental health problems among children and adolescents from a local health center in the South of Brazil

*Correspondence: [e-mail].

Abstract

Background: The identification of factors associated with psychopathology in childhood is necessary for the planning of effective interventions and to equip professionals to adequately deal with regional morbidity.

Objective: To describe the local prevalence of psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders and mental health problems in childhood and adolescence and their associated factors.

Methods: This is a descriptive survey of data collection. The medical records of 42 users aged between 3 and 14 years, who underwent medical and psychological follow-up at a municipal outpatient clinic, were consulted. The analysis categories were the characteristics of the child, guardians and environment and for all these variables, the absolute and relative frequency was performed, with statistical comparisons performed using the chi-square test for adjustment control, with level of 5% significance level. Analyses were performed using the XLSTAT® software.

Results: The primary complaints among children were changes in family dynamics (23.81%), abuse and neglect (21.43%), disruptive behavior (19.05%) and anxiety symptoms (11.90%). The most frequent secondary complaints were disruptive behavior (52.17%), anxiety symptoms (21.74%), depressive symptoms (13.04%), self-injurious behavior (8.70%) and mixed symptoms (4.35%). The most frequent previous diagnoses (11.90%) were Epilepsy and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), followed by Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) (9.52%), Encopresis and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) (4.76%). Combining the possible determining agents, it can be seen that child + parents + environment contributes with 78.70% for the occurrence of complaints, this being the highest value, indicating that such symptoms have a multifactorial origin.

Conclusion: Knowing the local prevalence factors and its risk makes it possible to qualify mental health care, emphasizing expanded care, territorially and community-based, which includes parents, caregivers and family members involved in the child's dynamics. The data reaffirm the voice of preventive programs from early childhood.

 

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Publication History

Article published online:
12 May 2025