Status of Physical and behavioral health among 7-11 year-old female students in southern regions of Mashhad

Physical and behavioral disorders cause a lot of problems in childhood and adolescence، and the prevalence varies in different parts of the world، so awareness of these disorders may help prevention of them، and will empower the students and their families. The aim of this study was to determine the physical and behavioral disorders among 7-11 year-old female students in southern regions of Mashhad This study was a cross-sectional study. The study included 298 first to the fifth- grade female pupils aged 7 to 11 in the southern regions of Mashhad on the second semester 1390-91. The data was gathered by meters، scales، stethoscope، sphygmomanometer، tongue stick، flashlight، Snellen chart، whisper test، demographic form، and the physical and behavioral problems check list. Data were analyzed by using SPSS software version 19. Data analysis also was performed by independent t test، binomial، chi-square، and Pearson correlation statistical tests. The results showed that 27. 2% of children have history of a disease، and 23. 5% of them mentioned at least one disease in their families. In physical disorders، tooth decay with frequency 84. 2% had higher incidence while spinal disorders with frequency 2% had the lowest prevalence. Among behavioral disorders، the highest prevalence was related to nail biting (3. 58 ± 0. 51) and the lowest prevalence was stuttering when faced with stress (3. 03 ± 0. 75) from the total score 4. Also، there was significant relationship between education and behavioral disorder so that prevalence of behavioral disorders among pupils who were studying in fifth grade were higher than other grades (P<0. 05). The results showed that the weight and height of the majority of primary- school female pupils in southern regions of Mashhad is inconsistent with international standards. In most studies، curves of height and weight related to children and adolescents is reduced in comparison to the NCHS، so it is required to codify local standards for each region. It was also found that there is the high prevalence of Physical and behavioral disorders among girl students in the southern regions of Mashhad. Therefore، it is necessary to do screening tests for prevention these disorders، early diagnosis، treatment، and organizing follow-up.