Background: There is limited data on the prevalence of child and adolescent mental health disorders (CAMHD) in Ghana. Recent reports suggest a decline in academic achievement in basic education. This paper sought to determine the prevalence of CAMHD in Ghanaian primary school children and to draw correlates with academic achievement. Methods: We conducted a pilot cross-sectional survey of 303 grade 3 pupils aged 7–15 years in the city of Kumasi. The Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) and Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (K-SADS-PL) were used to assess for CAMHD in 2016, and data on performance in examinations over the prior academic year were analysed. Results: Overall, current prevalence of CAMHD was 7.25%, with depressive disorder = 1.31%, anxiety disorders = 1%, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) = 1.64%, conduct disorder = 1.97%, and intellectual disability = 1%. Co-morbid disorders, such as seizure disorder (1%), were also noted. There was a greater prevalence of CAMHD in public schools (11.6%) compared to private schools (0.7%), with p < 0.001. Even when adjusted for other factors, children with CAMHD had a lower average academic score by 10.5 units (p < 0.001). Thus, having a dual diagnosis was most predictive of academic underachievement. Conclusions: The results of this study document the prevalence of CAMHD in Ghana for the first time and shows correlates with academic underachievement.

中文翻译：

---

加纳小学龄儿童精神障碍的患病率和类型：与学业成绩相关

背景：关于加纳的儿童和青少年精神健康障碍（CAMHD）的患病率数据有限。最近的报告表明，基础教育学业成绩下降。本文试图确定加纳小学生中CAMHD的患病率，并得出与学业成绩的相关性。方法：我们在库马西市对303名7-15岁的3年级小学生进行了横断面调查。使用儿童行为清单（CBCL）和儿童情感障碍和精神分裂症时间表（K-SADS-PL）在2016年评估CAMHD，并分析了上一学年的考试成绩数据。结果：总体而言，当前CAMHD的患病率为7.25％，其中抑郁症= 1.31％，焦虑症= 1％，注意缺陷多动障碍（ADHD）= 1.64％，行为障碍= 1.97％，智力残疾= 1％。还注意到合并症，如癫痫发作（1％）。与私立学校（0.7％）相比，公立学校（11.6％）的CAMHD患病率更高，p <0.001。即使对其他因素进行调整，患有CAMHD的儿童的平均学习成绩也降低了10.5个单位（p <0.001）。因此，双重诊断最能预测学业成绩不佳。结论：本研究结果首次记录了加纳CAMHD的患病率，并显示与学业成绩不佳相关。即使对其他因素进行调整，患有CAMHD的儿童的平均学业成绩也降低了10.5个单位（p <0.001）。因此，双重诊断最能预测学业成绩不佳。结论：本研究结果首次记录了加纳CAMHD的患病率，并显示与学业成绩不佳相关。即使对其他因素进行调整，患有CAMHD的儿童的平均学习成绩也降低了10.5个单位（p <0.001）。因此，双重诊断最能预测学业成绩不佳。结论：本研究结果首次记录了加纳CAMHD的患病率，并显示与学业成绩不佳相关。