Impact of child emotional and behavioural difficulties on educational outcomes of primary school children in Ethiopia: a population-based cohort study

Habtamu Mekonnen*, Girmay Medhin, Mark Tomlinson, Atalay Alem, Martin Prince, Charlotte Hanlon

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract / Description of output

Background: The relationship between child emotional and behavioural difficulties (EBD) and educational outcomes has not been investigated in prospective, community studies from low-income countries. Methods: The association between child EBD symptoms and educational outcomes was examined in an ongoing cohort of 2090 mother-child dyads. Child EBD was measured when the mean age of children was 6.5 years, SD 0.04 (T0) and 8.4, SD 0.5 years (T1) using the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Educational outcomes were obtained from maternal report (drop-out) at T1 and from school records at when the mean age of the children was 9.3 (SD 0.5) years (T2). Result: After adjusting for potential confounders, child EBD symptoms at T1 were associated significantly with school absenteeism at T2: SDQ total score: Risk Ratio (RR) 1.01; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01, 1.02; SDQ high score (≥ 14) RR 1.36; 95% CI 1.24, 1.48; emotional subscale RR 1.03; 95% CI 1.01, 1.04; hyperactivity subscale RR 1.03; 95% CI 1.02, 1.04 and peer problems subscale (RR 1.02; 95% CI 1.00, 1.04). High SDQ (β =-2.89; 95% CI-5.73,-0.06) and the conduct problems sub-scale (β =-0.57; 95% CI-1.02,-0.12) had a significant negative association with academic achievement. There was no significant association between child EBD and school drop-out. Conclusion: Prospective associations were found between child EBD symptoms and increased school absenteeism and lower academic achievement, suggesting the need for child mental health to be considered in interventions targeting improvement of school attendance and academic achievement in low-income countries.
Original languageEnglish
Article number22
JournalChild and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health
Volume14
Issue number1
Early online date16 May 2020
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 16 May 2020

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • Absenteeism
  • Child education
  • Child emotional and behavioral difficulty
  • Child mental health
  • Cohort study
  • Sub-saharan Africa

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