The Prevalence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders in A Cluster of Primary Schools in the Ayawaso Submetro, Accra, Ghana

Abstract

Background: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by a high level of inattentive, hyperactive and impulsive behaviour that begins in childhood. It is developmentally inappropriate and impairs thefunctional life of the affected child at home and at school. Although ADHD is a very common childhood developmental disorder, it is not given the attention it deserves in childhood disorders in Ghana. Children affected by ADHD present with numerous psychosocialproblems in the communities they live, wherever they find themselves, and in later life. These psychosocial problems include substance, child and sexual abuses. They also present a range of psychiatric and behavioural disorders e.g. suicides and homicides. They are prone to becoming school dropouts, armed robbers and prostitutes. The present study looked at the prevalence of ADHD in a cluster of primary schools in Accra, Ghana. This study is expected to give evidence for early secondary prevention.Methods: Using random sampling, 18 primary schools were selected from 58 primary schools in the Ayawaso sub metropolitan area in Accra, Ghana. Six out of the eighteen primary schools refused to take part in the study for various reasons. The final cohort of pupils,were from 12 schools with a total population of four hundred and four (404). Their ages ranged from 5 to 9 years. Parents, guardians and teachers were asked to complete the rating scores of symptoms of ADHD by Corners which is based on DSM-IV. The study alsoassessed the educational status of guardians and parents from the questionnaires.Results: The total number of ADHD males and females was forty (40) and thirty seven (37) respectively. The prevalence of ADHD in the males and female cohorts were ten percent (10%) and nine-point one percent (9.1%) respectively, making a total prevalence ofnineteen-point one percent (19.1%).Conclusion: The prevalence of ADHD in the selected primary schools was nineteen-point one percent (19.1%). The study also showed that lower socioeducational status may be a positive risk factor for ADHD.