Functional impairment and mental health functioning among Vietnamese children

Area of Science:

• Child and Adolescent Mental Health
• Global Health
• Developmental Psychology

Background:

• Functional impairment is a critical indicator for mental health service needs in children and adolescents.
• This metric is particularly relevant for low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) to prioritize child mental health policies.
• Limited research exists on functional impairment rates within LMIC settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess functional impairment rates in Vietnamese children as a representative LMIC case.
• To examine the influence of risk and protective factors relevant to LMIC, such as urban/rural residence and family structure.

Main Methods:

• A survey involving 1314 parents of children aged 6-16 years across 10 Vietnamese provinces.
• Interviews were conducted to gather data on child functional impairment and related factors.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of functional impairment among Vietnamese children was 20%, comparable to high-income countries.
• Mental health caseness was associated with a significant increase (over 550%) in functional impairment.
• Other risk factors, like marital status, showed smaller but significant effects.

Conclusions:

• Mental health problems are a primary, but not the only, cause of functional impairment in Vietnamese children.
• Findings underscore the potential for this research to influence public awareness and policy concerning child mental health in LMIC.