Psycho-behavioral and socio-economic characteristics of juvenile delinquency in Wasit Province at ۲۰۱۶ to ۲۰۲۰

Background and Objective: Juvenile delinquency is one of the serious behavioral problems that affect youth health physically, mentally and socially. The term delinquency refers to acts by a juvenile that would be considered a crime if committed by an adult, as well as to actions that are illegal only because of the age of the offender. The objective of this study Is to determine the psycho-behavioral and socio-economic profile of juvenile offenders in Wasit Province.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional hospital-based study targeted all delinquents (n=۵۱۰) who referred by criminal courts to psychiatric unit for personality study using clinical based interview at ۲۰۱۶ to ۲۰۲۰. Data collected from files of offenders by a routine interviewing (with highly secured information).Results: The mean age ±SD of the indicted was ۱۷.۹±۲.۹ years, male youths consist ۹۶%, with a history of low socioeconomic status, ۷۴% of them lived within family size of ≥۷ members; ۵۰% rank in ۱st. to ۳rd. in among all siblings in their families; ۱۷% losses their fathers. Of total sample, one-half of offenders presented with school dropout and ۴۴% engaged in premature labor. Most of youth presented with good mental health, sometimes they appear with consistent personality only ۱۹ (۴%) of them presented with speech and movement disorder, and unstable and uncooperative personality. Of ۲۹۰ delinquents; ۱۰۸ (۳۷%) were tobacco smoker and ۴۳ (۱۵%) presented with tattoo. Dropout offenders presented with fourfold smoking and tattoo than students with an Odds Ratios of ۳.۸ (۹۵% CI ۲.۲۵-۶.۴), and ۴.۰ (۹۵% CI ۱.۹-۸.۷) respectively. ۵% of youths have a history of previous offence. (۳۸%) of offenders accused with theft or robbery crimes followed by homicide (۱۶%) and physical fighting or scrimmage (۱۲%).Conclusion: According to the psychiatric interview, the majority of the indicted were not mentally ill. Low socioeconomic status, live in large family, losses fathers, school dropout, and premature work all these factors may contribute to increase the burden of juvenile delinquency in Wasit province. The prevalence of healthy risk behavior in school dropout delinquents more than in students. Theft and robbery, homicide and physical fighting as a crimes were on the top of the list. Educational and health programs that encourage children to enrolled school and increase awareness of negative impact of juvenile delinquency on individual and community should be considered urgently.

Keywords:

juvenile delinquency , psycho-behavioral , risky behavior , school dropout , Wasit , Iraq