Resumen

GAYTAN JIMENEZ, Efraín et al. Prevalence of emotional, behavioral and cognitive difficulties in children from urban scenarios with different marginalization status. Rev. de psicol. y cienc. del comport. de la Unidad Académica de Cienc. Juríd. y Sociales [online]. 2015, vol.6, n.1, pp.57-74. ISSN 2007-1833.

In Mexico, like in other Latin-American countries, mental and cognitive disorders in childhood have become more relevant because of the social and economic impact either at individual, familial or community level. Due to limitations in health care systems, the prevalence of these conditions in children is unknown. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of behavioral, emotional and cognitive difficulties in children with different levels of marginalization, living in the metropolitan area of La Laguna, Mexico. An analytical observational cross-sectional study was conducted. The prevalence of ADHD was 14.7% and for anxiety was 15.4%. Cognitive impairment was observed in 25.4% of the sample. Children living in the area with the highest level of marginalization had nine times more risk to present cognitive impairment compared with a low marginalization group, whereas for the medium marginalization group, the risk was six times higher than the low marginalization group. The results demonstrated a high impact of social vulnerability in cognitive development.

Palabras llave : Child mental health; cognitive development; marginalization.