Impacto de la migración en la salud mental en niños y adolescentes del cantón Gualaceo, Cuenca 2010

Abstract

Objective: Determination of immigration impact at the mental health of children and adolescents left behind at the country.

Methodology: A transversal study was developed in a sample of 450 students aged 6 to 16 years old in Gualaceo province of Azuay (2009). The sample was made for systemic randomized method. The SDQ test was used to mental health diagnosis. The prevalence reason (PR) with IC 95% and square Chi were used for finding statistical association between immigration and mental pathology. Results: The prevalence of mental illness was higher in immigrant´s children (30%) More than 50% of immigration was paternal for a period longer than 5 years. The children aged 6 to 10 years with immigration showed higher prevalence of mental problems (35%). The highest mental problem prevalence at immigrant´s children was the behavioral disorder (54.5%). Children aged 11 to 16 years at immigrant´s group the higher prevalence was the emotional disorder (41.7%). Conclusion: Immigrants children have two times higher probability to have emotional disorders, behaviors disorders, peer relationships problems than non immigrants children (p<0.001-0.008). The hyperactivity and prosocial behavior did not show association with immigration. The immigration increases the prevalence of mental pathology whereas there were not specific association with the time of immigration and the migrated progenitor. Do not have immigration is a protective factor to the development of mental pathology.