Patterns and problems of sleep in school going children

This study was conducted to assess the sleep habits and problems of 103 young school going healthy children (3-10 yr) during their visit to hospital for minor illnesses or routine health visits for immunization. The average duration of daily sleep (nocturnal and daytime nap) was 10.32 and the percentage of children who took regular daytime nap was 28.2%. Co- sleeping, a traditional cultural practice in India was found in 93% of the children. Sleep related problems were reported in 42.7% children that included nocturnal enuresis (18.4%), sleep talking (14.6%), bruxism (11.6%) nightmares (6.8%), night terrors (2.9%) snoring (5.8%) and sleepwalking (1.9%). On univariate analysis, sleep related problems were notably common if it was nuclear family (Fishers exact test; P = 0.01), mother was younger in age (Mann Whitney U test; P= .04) and less educated (Mann Whitney U test; P=.04). However, when these predictors were entered simultaneously into a logistic regression model, only nuclear family remained as significant predictor of sleep related disorders (odds ratio 2.41; CI; 1.04-5.57). We conclude that sleep problems are frequent among healthy school going children seen at general pediatric practice.