TY - JOUR
T1 - Emotional and Behavioral Problems in Children and Adolescents in Central Kenya
AU - Magai, Dorcas N.
AU - Malik, Jamil A.
AU - Koot, Hans M.
PY - 2018/1/31
Y1 - 2018/1/31
N2 - Emotional and behavioral problems (EBP) during childhood and adolescence are a common concern for parents and mental health stakeholders. However, little has been documented about their prevalence in Kenyan children and adolescents. This study aimed to close this gap. The study included Child Behavior Checklist reports from 1022 Kenyan parents on their children (ages 6–18 years) and Youth Self-Reports from 533 adolescents (ages 12–18) living in Kenya’s Central Province. EBP in Kenya are highly prevalent compared to multi-cultural standards for parent reports, with 27 and 17% scoring in the borderline and clinical range, respectively. Based on parent reports, younger children scored higher on EBP than older children, and higher on internalizing problems. Based on self-reports girls scored higher than boys, particularly on internalizing problems. The study provides evidence on elevated parent-reported EBP in Kenyan youths. Mental health providers should focus on interventions that reduce EBP in Kenyan youths.
AB - Emotional and behavioral problems (EBP) during childhood and adolescence are a common concern for parents and mental health stakeholders. However, little has been documented about their prevalence in Kenyan children and adolescents. This study aimed to close this gap. The study included Child Behavior Checklist reports from 1022 Kenyan parents on their children (ages 6–18 years) and Youth Self-Reports from 533 adolescents (ages 12–18) living in Kenya’s Central Province. EBP in Kenya are highly prevalent compared to multi-cultural standards for parent reports, with 27 and 17% scoring in the borderline and clinical range, respectively. Based on parent reports, younger children scored higher on EBP than older children, and higher on internalizing problems. Based on self-reports girls scored higher than boys, particularly on internalizing problems. The study provides evidence on elevated parent-reported EBP in Kenyan youths. Mental health providers should focus on interventions that reduce EBP in Kenyan youths.
KW - Adolescent
KW - Child
KW - Emotional/behavioral problems
KW - Kenya
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85045063194&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85045063194&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10578-018-0783-y
DO - 10.1007/s10578-018-0783-y
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85045063194
VL - 2018
SP - 1
EP - 13
JO - Child psychiatry and human development
JF - Child psychiatry and human development
SN - 0009-398X
IS - 4
ER -