Background: Behavioral problems among schoolgoing children are of significant concern to teachers and parents. These are known to have both immediate and long-term unfavorable consequences. Despite the high prevalence, studies on psychiatric morbidity among school children are lacking in our country.
Materials and methods: Five hundred children aged 6-18 years were randomly selected from a government school in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, and assessed for cognitive, emotional, or behavioral problems using standardized tools.
Results: About 22.7% of children showed behavioral, cognitive, or emotional problems. Additional screening and evaluation tools pointed toward a higher prevalence of externalizing symptoms among boys than girls.
Conclusion: The study highlights the importance of regular screening of school children for preventive as well as timely remedial measures.
Keywords: Behavioral problems; externalizing symptoms; pediatric symptom checklist.