Child mental health problems in the Gaza strip : referrals to three clinical settings

Abstract EN

Objectives: To describe the mental health characteristics of children referred to various health services settings in the Gaza Strip.

Method: The sample consisted of 150 children between 6-13 years of age, who had been referred to a Community Mental Health Centre, five primary health centres and a paediatric hospital N=50 for each group).

Parents completed the Rutter A Scales on behavioral and emotional problems and clinicians made an ICD-10 psychiatric diagnosis.

Results: there was a high rate of somatising disorders among children referred to the Mental Health Centre (42%).

Parent-reported rates of significant mental health problems were high for all groups, i.e.

70% in the Mental Health Centre group, 30% in the paediatric group and 18% among children referred to Primary Health Centres.

Conclusions: Children primarily referred for physical health problems may have underlying psychiatric disorders.

Liaison with Child Psychiatry Services and ongoing training in child mental health issues are important for Primary Health Care and hospital staff.