GENDER DIFFERENCE IN PSYCHIATRIC MORBIDITY AMONG INMATES OF JUVENILE HOMES.

Corresponding Author:
Ganga G. Kaimal,
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry,
Government T. D. Medical College, Alappuzha.
E-mail: gangagkaimal@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND

Mental health problems are found to be high among institutionalised children. Delinquent behaviours in children can occur as a part of psychiatric disorders. Understanding the mental health disorders among children living in institutions like juvenile homes will help to make policies to meet their needs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

100 children and adolescents from juvenile home in Kerala were selected for the study. After getting ethical clearance and permission from the concerned authorities, children who chose to participate signed a consent form. Personal data of children was collected using a personal data sheet. The investigator interviewed each of the participant individually to assess psychopathology, and Psychiatric disorders were diagnosed based on ICD-10. Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Out of the 100 children assessed, 42 percent were found to have Psychiatric illness. 46.6% of the boys and 29.6% of the girls were found to have Psychiatric illness which indicates that there is a significant difference among the boys and girls having Psychiatric illness.

CONCLUSION

Psychiatric morbidity is high among inmates of juvenile homes and boys are having more psychiatric morbidity than girls.

KEYWORDS

Juvenile Home, Psychiatric Morbidity, Gender Difference.