English

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Learning is not a unitary process involving teacher and student. It also depends on the relationship and interplay of familial, psychological, educational, social and economical atmosphere in and around the child. AIM: The present study was done to formulate a diagnostic profile and compare the co-morbidity status in children presenting with poor scholastic performance in a Child Guidance Clinic set up. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A sample of 100 children from the age of 4 years to 12 years attending the Child Guidance Clinic under the department of Paediatrics in a medical college set up with history of poor scholastic performance was collected. The study design was case study method. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Detailed psychological analysis was done and diagnosis was made by using the ICD - 10 diagnostic guidelines and multi axial diagnostic system. The study population was divided in to failure (group II) and non failure (group I) groups based on the repetition of grade and the psychiatric morbidity was compared. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Statistical analysis was done by SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) and chi square test. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Psychiatric morbidity was present in 42%, developmental disorders in 34%, Non psychiatric medical diagnosis in 25% and abnormal psychosocial situation in 31% of the sample population. Multiple diagnoses were present in 16%. Comparison shows that Prevalence of psychiatric co morbidity was more in the failure group than the non failure group. Scholastic backwardness in children is a complex issue, having various causes. Each child's problem is unique in nature. So a multi disciplinary intervention is needed at Paediatric level itself.