SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC CORRELATES OF BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS AMONGST THE URBAN SLUM DWELLERS AGED BETWEEN 6 TO 18 YEARS

Abstract

Introduction: Hundreds of millions of children live in urban slums, many deprived to basic services. This all are resulted in the different kind of behavioural problems in children living in urban slum. Many of these problems are of transient nature and are often not even noticed or sometimes neglected. Various factors play role in causation of behaviour problems.

Aim: The present cross-sectional study was planned in the adopted slum field area of Government Medical College, Miraj to find out prevalence and factors associated with behaviour problems amongst slum dwellers of 6 – 18 years age group.

Material and Methods: Total 600 parents of children in the age group of 6-18 years were selected by simple random sampling method using random number table from the register of "Family survey register" of field workers of UHC.

Results: The behavioural problems were identified in 189(55.1%) male children out of total 343 male children. The gender wise difference was statistically significant (p-Value < 0.005). There was statistically significant difference between behavioural problems according to family size (p-Value < 0.05). Children coming from large family were having more behavioural problems. The higher prevalence rate of behaviour problems was found amongst children having either or both of parents illiterate. It was highest among children having only illiterate mother. This was statistically significant (p-Value<0.001). The behavioural problems were observed least among children whose parents having caring attitude towards them, whereas the behavioural problems were higher amongst children who exposed to faulty parental attitudes (i.e.negligent, overprotective and strict).

Conclusion: The common needs in this group include affection and warmth by family members not only by being “taken care of” but also fulfilment of physical and emotional needs. Behaviour problems found amongst children depends upon various family factors. The attitude of parents towards children plays major role in causation and their prevention of behaviour problems. Parenting counselling will play a major role in reduction of prevalence rate of behaviour problems.