Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Associated Factors Among First-Year Elementary School Students

Abstract

Hai Huu Hoang,1,* Anh Thi Ngoc Tran,2,* Van Hung Nguyen,3 Thi Thanh Binh Nguyen,4 Thi Anh Phuong Nguyen,5 Dinh Duong Le,3 Alfred Jatho,6 David Onchonga,7 Tuyen Van Duong,8 Minh Tu Nguyen,9 Binh Thang Tran3 1Student’s Affairs Office, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue City, Vietnam; 2Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hanoi, Vietnam; 3Faculty of Public Health, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue City, Vietnam; 4Department of Paediatrics, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue City, Vietnam; 5Faculty of Nursing, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue City, Vietnam; 6Department of Cancer Control and Population Health, Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea; 7Doctoral School of Health Sciences, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary; 8School of Nutrition and Health Sciences, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, 110-31, Taiwan; 9Undergraduate Training Office, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue City, Vietnam*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Binh Thang TranFaculty of Public Health, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, 06 Ngo Quyen Street, Hue City, Thua Thien Hue, VietnamEmail [email protected]: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental health disorder commonly in children. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of ADHD and risk factors among first-year pupils in Vietnam’s urban city.Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in four randomly selected primary schools. Information on 525 pupils in grade 1 (ages 6 to 7 years) was collected from 525 parents/caregivers and 28 teachers. We used the Vanderbilt Assessment Scales with two separate versions for parents and teachers to screen children with ADHD symptoms.Results: Among the total of 525 pupils, 24 (4.6%) were found to have ADHD symptom types (boy: 6.5%; girl: 2.1%). The combined ADHD type accounted for the highest proportion of 3.4%, followed by predominantly inattentive and predominantly hyperactivity type. ADHD prevalence rated by teachers was higher than those rated by parents. High agreement between parents and teachers was reported (κ > 0.6). The risk of ADHD increased in male participants (aOR=4.90, 95% CI 1.51– 15.85), those having a first-degree relative with ADHD (aOR=85.2, 95% CI 1.66– 4371.8), in-utero exposure to tobacco smoke (aOR=4.78, 95% CI 1.31– 17.44), and prenatal alcohol drinking (aOR=8.87, 95% CI 2.29– 34.42).Conclusion: These findings suggest the importance of ADHD screening for pupils attending elementary schools, particularly those with a family history of ADHD. Public health programs should reduce prenatal exposure to the potential risk factors of ADHD (smoking and alcohol consumption).Keywords: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADHD, school health, children, risk factors, Vietnam

Keywords

• attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (adhd)
• school health
• children
• risk factors
• vietnam