Prevalence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity among Children Attending Outpatient Clinic in Psychiatric Teaching Hospital in Erbil City

Background and objectives: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is one of the common psychiatric disorder in childhood and it affects on children socially and academically. The aim of this study is to find out the prevalence of Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder among the studied population, describe its association with certain socio-demographic characteristics, and to identify factors that might affect the disease.Methods: A cross sectional study conducted among 400 children aged more than six year attending outpatient clinic of Psychiatric Teaching Hospital in Erbil city, from the 1st of April 2015 to the 30th of April 2016. The questionnaire was completed through direct interview. A Chi square test of association was used to compare proportions. A P value of ≤ 0.05 was considered as statistically significantResults: The overall prevalence of Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder was 35 (8.75%). Among males 22 (9.2%) were had ADHD. The prevalence of ADHD was significantly associated with paternal and maternal high education (28.9%) and (24%) respectively. Among the medical diseases trauma and mental retardation showed significant association with the prevalence of the disease as they may have no role as a factor or as a cause of the disease. While family history of medical disease were positive in only 4 (7.8%). Conclusion: The prevalence of Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder was higher among boys. It showed significant association with higher educational level and higher socioeconomic status of the family. Keywords: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity disorder, prevalence, Hawler psychiatric teaching hospital