Abstract:
Children under institutionalised care are vulnerable to develop mental health
abnormalities. This study aimed to assess the mental health of the children in child
welfare centers and identify the influencing factors. A cross-sectional descriptive study
was conducted in 30 child welfare centers in Batticaloa district from January 2017 to
December 2019. A total of 647 children aged from 11 to 17 years were recruited. The
self-reported youth version of strengths and difficulties questionnaire was used to assess
the children’s mental health. Multiple linear regression stepwise method analyses were
employed to identify the factors influencing the children’s mental health. The mean
scores of the total difficulties, emotional problems, conduct problems, hyperactivity, peer
problems and prosocial behaviour were 12.22±5.18, 4.14±2.09, 2.45±1.67, 3.27±1.77,
2.36±1.76 and 8.43±1.51, respectively. Fifty-two (8.0%) children had an abnormality in
total difficulties, 73 (11.3%) had emotional problems, 89 (13.8%) had conduct problems,
22 (3.4%) had hyperactivity, 34 (5.3%) had peer problems, and 7 (1.1%) had abnormal
prosocial concerns. Poor mental health was statistically associated with the presence
of feeling of distress (p<0.001), family history of mental illness (p=0.001), female
gender (p=0.002), poor satisfaction of family interaction (p=0.008), and poor academic
performances (p=0.034). Forty-five children found with abnormal mental health in the
screening were referred to the child mental health clinic at Teaching Hospital Batticaloa;
only sixteen attended the clinic, and six were diagnosed with Childhood psychiatric
disorders. The majority of the children in child welfare centers are mentally healthy,
and few children exhibit abnormal mental health. Therefore, approaches to support
the children in maintaining optimum mental health are valuable in their development.
Further, early screening and referrals must be enhanced to prevent adversities
