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Mental health service utilization among Puerto Rican children ages 4 through 16

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Abstract

This paper examines those children receiving mental health services in Puerto Rico, their demographic and psychosocial characteristics, and describes service providers and nature of facilities. The survey was done on a probability sample of children ages 4 through 16 across the island of Puerto Rico (N=777). Need for services was clinically defined as presence of a DSM-III diagnosis and functional impairment. The overall rate of service utilization for Puerto Rican children was 6% (26.2% of “definite cases” and 5.1% of “probable cases”). In most cases services were provided by psychologists and/or social workers, and they were mainly provided in schools and general medical facilities. In over 60% of the children assessed as cases, who did not receive services, the reason, given by the parent was that they considered the problem not serious. Factors associated with service utilization were measures of psychopathology, teacher's perceived need, and parental rates of criticism and hostility. These findings suggest that there is a need for more research on the motivating factors for service use (impairment and parental criticism). Teachers could benefit from receiving special training to help them readily recognize behavioral problems in children, communicate them to parents and set up services alternatives.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, 722 West 168th St., Unit 78, 10032, New York, NY

    Beatriz Staghezza-Jaramillo M.P.H. (Research Scientist) & Hector R. Bird M.D. (Professor)

  2. College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY

    Hector R. Bird M.D. (Professor)

  3. Department of Epidemiology and Child Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY

    Madelyn S. Gould Ph.D. (Associate Professor)

  4. School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico

    Glorisa Canino Ph.D. (Associate Professor)

Authors
  1. Beatriz Staghezza-Jaramillo M.P.H.
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  2. Hector R. Bird M.D.
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  3. Madelyn S. Gould Ph.D.
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  4. Glorisa Canino Ph.D.
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Staghezza-Jaramillo, B., Bird, H.R., Gould, M.S. et al. Mental health service utilization among Puerto Rican children ages 4 through 16. J Child Fam Stud 4, 399–418 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02237271

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