Child behavior problems: Prevalence and correlates in rural minority areas of China

BACKGROUND: Ethnicity may possibly associate with different maternal child-rearing practices and child developmental problems. The aim of this study was to better understand epidemiological features and correlates of child behavior problems in a large sample of children in economically disadvantaged rural minority areas of China and to provide reference data for subsequent intervention of child developmental problems. METHODS: A total of 1222 rural mother-child pairs belonging to Hani, Yi, Hui, Miao and Han were drawn from four economically disadvantaged minority counties in Yunnan Province of China. Well-trained investigators completed child physical examination and measurements (height and weight) in village clinics and interviews of mothers at respondents' homes using a structured questionnaire. RESULTS: Child behavior problems were prevalent in children aged 2-6 years: 71.4% for temper tantrums; 48.2% for swearing; 36.0% for nocturnal bed-wetting; 29.9% for disobedience; 29.5% for difficulty initiating sleep; and 17.0% for picky eating. Child behavior problems significantly differed across Hani, Yi, Hui, Miao and Han ethnic groups. Logistic regression indicated that ethnicity of Hui compared with Han, younger children, prenatal risk factors, being a twin, ineffective child-rearing behaviors such as pampering, corporal punishment, swaddling, family disagreement among child-rearing contributed independently to the risk for child behavior problems. CONCLUSIONS: The child behavior problems were prevalent in children aged 2-6 years in rural minority children of China. Ineffective family child-rearing practices increase risk for child behavior problems.