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Subject Area

Plastic Surgery

Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Objectives The objective of this study was to screen the intelligence of primary school children using ‘draw a person’ (DAP) test in Berket El Sabaa district, Menoufia governorate. Background The significance of children's drawings has been explored extensively since the late 19th century, and they are thought to provide indications of visual-motor development, levels of cognitive functioning and intellectual maturity, projections of personality and self-concept, and assessments of emotional state and disturbances. Drawing is an activity that children tend to enjoy, and they willingly produce spontaneous scribbles and drawings from a young age. Patients and methods This study was carried out on 1000 apparently healthy, primary school children aged 6–12 years in Berket El Sabaa district, Menoufia governorate. All participants were subjected to adequate assessment of history and complete clinical examination. Parents were required to complete a questionnaire to collect data on telephone number, full name, date of birth, any serious medical problems in the past, as well as educational level of parents, father's occupation, family size, and family income to assess socioeconomic level, school achievement, and DAP test. Results The present study showed that 9.2% of children were highly intelligent, 71.9% had average intelligence, 10.6% of children had borderline intellectual function, and 8.3% of children had mild mental retardation. In addition, positive correlations were found between IQ levels and socioeconomic status, school achievement, residence, and sex. There was a significant negative correlation between IQ levels and children's BMI. Conclusion The DAP test can be a useful developmental screening device for pediatricians and alert them to the possibility of developmental disorders.

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