Estimated mental retardation and school dropout in a sample of students from state public schools in Porto Alegre, Brazil

Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria

Silzá Tramontina¹  Silvia Martins¹  Mariana B Michalowski¹  Carla R Ketzer¹  Mariana Eizirik¹  Joseph Biederman²  Luis A Rohde¹ 

[1] ,Federal University of the state of Rio Grande do Sul Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine Porto Alegre RS ,Brazil

关键词: School dropouts;    Mental retardation;    absenteeism;    Students;    Evasão escolar;    Retardo mental;    Absenteísmo;    Escolares;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S1516-44462002000400006

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

OBJECTIVES: To assess the association between estimated Mental Retardation (MR) and school dropout in a sample of students of the third and fourth grades at state schools in Porto Alegre, the capital of the southernmost state of Brazil. METHOD: In this case - control study, students that dropped out from schools (n=44) and a control group who continued attending schools (n=44) had their intelligence quotient (IQ) determined by the vocabulary and cubes subtests of the Wescheler Intelligence Scale ¾ third edition (WISC¾III). Students with IQ lower than 70 were considered as potential cases of MR. Other prevalent mental disorders in this age range were assessed in both groups using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School¾ Age Children, Epidemiological Version (K-SADS-E). RESULTS: The prevalence of potential MR was significantly higher in the dropped out group than in the control group (p<0.001). Odds ratio for school dropout was significantly higher in the presence of MR even after controlling for potentially confounding factors (age, conduct disorder, grade repetition, family structure and income) (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Children with IQ lower than 70 (potential MR) were at higher risk for school dropout. These children need to be identified at school and specific educational strategies should be implemented to assure their inclusion in the learning process.

【 授权许可】

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