Abstract Background: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders that begins in childhood worldwide. In India, reported prevalence rates ranged from 1.5% to 12%. This underscores the importance of incorporating ADHD screening into school-aged children’s health programs and training educators to recognize early signs of the disorder. Early detection and prompt intervention are essential to reduce academic struggles and prevent long-term psychosocial issues. Objectives: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of ADHD among school-going children aged from 6 to 16 in Bangalore, Karnataka, India, and to identify related sociodemographic and perinatal risk factors. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in five government schools from July 2023 to December 2024. A total of 310 children were screened using the Vanderbilt Parent and Teacher rating scales, and diagnoses were made based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition criteria. Sociodemographic and perinatal data were collected through structured questionnaires. Results: The prevalence of ADHD was 16.06% (95% confidence interval CI: 11.7–20.4) based on parent reports and 15.48% (95% CI: 11.2–19.7) based on teacher reports. Boys were significantly more affected compared with girls, with 40 boys (22.99%) compared with 10 girls (7.35%); P < 0.001. The highest prevalence was observed in the 10- to 12-year age group (16.9%). Postterm delivery emerged as a significant perinatal risk factor ( P = 0.019, odds ratio: 2.86, 95% CI: 1.19–6.88). The combined subtype (50%) was the most frequently identified presentation. Conclusion: ADHD is common among school-going children in Bangalore, with a significantly higher prevalence in boys and children born postterm. Implementing school-based screening programs, along with parental awareness and early intervention strategies, is essential to reducing the disorder’s academic and social effects.
Krishnappa et al. (Thu,) studied this question.