Prevalence of ADHD in Primary School Children in Belagavi City, India

Abstract

Background: ADHD is one of the most common childhood-onset psychiatric disorders. Even though there is no global consensus on ADHD prevalence, the estimated prevalence of ADHD worldwide ranges between 5.29% and 7.1%. In the Indian scenario, the prevalence of ADHD falls in range of 2% to 17%. Objective: The objective of the study is to determine the prevalence of ADHD in primary school children of Belagavi, India. Method: A cross-sectional study was done among 156 children aged between 6 to 11 years (Grade 1 to 5). Data were collected using Swanson, Nolan and Pelham-IV rating scale (SNAP-IV) Questionnaire after obtaining informed consent from respective parents and principals of their school. Result: Prevalence rate of ADHD was 5.76% with 3.8% among girls and 1.9% among boys. Conclusion: These findings highlight the significance of detecting ADHD in pupils at an early age to plan interventions for treating such cases.