Sleep Problems in Preschool and School Aged Rural Indian Children

We assessed 513 children (2-6 y = 252; 7-12 y = 261) who visited the pediatric outpatient of a rural medical college hospital, for sleep problems using 'BEARS' tool. Sleep problems detected in the BEARS domains for preschool (2-6 years, n=252) and school children (7-12 years, n=261) were as follows: bedtime problems (33.3% vs 14.9%, P < 0.001), excessive daytime sleepiness (32.5% vs 1.9%, P<0.001), awakening during night (25% vs 11.87%, P < 0.001), regularity and duration of sleep (19.84% vs 4.98%, P < 0.001), and sleep disordered breathing (4.8% vs 5%, P=0.1). We conclude that sleep problems are common among rural Indian children and should be routinely screened for during health visits.