Study of Behaviour Problems in a Paediatric Outpatient Department.

Background: Behaviour problems in children still needs precise definition, explicit criterion and assessment on multiple paradigms.

Methods: Fifty children of the age group 6-14 years, from paediatric outpatient department, selected after randomisation were assessed for behaviour problems with the child behaviour checklist. The data collected was analysed using appropriate statistical tests.

Results: 40% children were above cutoff score. Mean child behaviour check list (CBCL) score was 40.6. Total of 72% children were from armed forces background of whom 9% were siblings of officers. 30.6% children from the armed forces background were above the cutoff score. There was no significant difference in the behaviour problems between different age groups and sex. There was no significant difference in behaviour problems between children of officers, other ranks or various income groups. Female children had behaviour problems like "too concerned with neatness or cleanliness", "feels has to be perfect" and "argues a lot" where as male children had behaviour problems like "Does not feel guilty after misbehaving", "argues a lot" and "restless".

Conclusion: Behaviour problems in the subjects were externalizing ones. No specific trend was found in children of defence personnel vis-a-vis children of civilian population.