What is worrying children in Ghana?

This study assessed the content, frequency and distribution of worries among primary school children in Somanya, Ghana. In part one, 85 primary school children aged between 10-to-15 years listed their worries through a list generation technique and a focus group discussion. In part two, the worries generated by the children were categorized and a questionnaire was constructed for measuring frequency of typical worries. 120 primary school children of same age range ranked the frequency with which they worried. The list generation described the content of the children s worries, and were grouped under six main categories respecting the child s life namely, Personal care ; Education ; Breaking norms ; Family relationships ; Safety and Environment ; and Sickness and death . The children s responses to the frequency scale indicated that their topmost worries related to Care . The study documented gender and age difference in worries. The thematic content of worries revealed systematic differences between orphaned and non-orphaned children.

Autorentext

Annabella Opare-Henaku is currently a lecturer at the Psychology Departement, University of Ghana. She obtained her M.Phil in Health Promotion from the University of Bergen (UiB), Norway.