Abstract

ABSTRACT
Background: In Nigeria due to the
high level of stigmatization, children
with psychiatric disorders often, first
present to paediatricians. The
attitude of paediatricians towards
psychiatric referral can, therefore,
determine how promptly, children
with psychiatric problems can
access specialized care.
Aims: to determine rate of referring
children for psychiatric evaluation,
the reasons for not referring and the
factors that influence referring
children for psychiatric evaluation by
paediatricians.
Methods: The questionnaire
designed for the study was
completed by 174 Paediatricians
who attended the annual scientific
c o n f e r e n c e o f P a e d i a t r i c
Association of Nigeria.
Results: Not having encountered
children with psychiatric disorders
(78%), absence of psychiatry
facilities in their area of practice
(70.7%), and feeling that this could
embarrass the patients (56.1%),
were the major reasons for nonreferral of children for psychiatric
evaluation by paediatricians while
the rank of participants (p=0.002),
years of practice (p=0.010), and
availability of psychiatry services in
the centre (p=0.011) were
significantly associated with
referring children for psychiatric
evaluation.
Conclusion: There is need to
establish child and adolescent
psychiatric services in all centres
where children are attended to and
also improve on the exposure of
medical students and trainees to
psychiatry.

Key words: Key words: paediatricians, psychiatric evaluation, referral