ABSTRACT
In the developing countries, adolescents and young people have insufficient access to information about effect of orphanage home environment on anxiety level of resident and health needs. The government's health services generally neither recognize the special needs nor seek to orphanage homes climate in which young people are supported. This work aimed at studying the anxiety level of the adolescents living in orphanage homes in El-Minia and Assiut governorates. Cross sectional study. A total of 112 adolescents, 50 from Assiut orphanage homes [22 boys and 28 girls] and 62 from El-Minia orphanage homes [34 boys and 28 girls] aged from 10-19 years old were included in the study from January 2005 to March 2005. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection, blood pressure, hemoglobin level, weight and height were measured. State trait Anxiety scale for measuring the level of anxiety used. The study showed that 31.5% of boys were physically abused compared to 12.5% of girls. Boys also reported that they do not have regular visits from anybody more than girls [75% and 37.5% respectively]. On the other hand, 32.1% of girls used to spend their holidays inside the orphanage homes compared to 10.7% of boys. In addition, 46.3% of girls and 25% of boys reported regular nightmares. More than half of boys [55.4%] and 78.6% of girls feel that they are less than other children live outside the orphanage homes. Anxiety levels of both boys and girls were high [45.1 +/- 2.2 vs 41.2 +/- 3.1, p=0.002 respectively]. Boys with high anxiety level were more than girls [35.7% and 25% respectively]. More than half of children who reported physical abuse had high anxiety level [57.2%]. Similarly more than half of those who reported that they do not go out during their holidays had high anxiety level [56.5%]. Boys live in orphanage homes had higher anxiety level than girls. Adolescents live in orphanage homes feel that they are less than other adolescents live outside orphanage homes. Those who reported that they were physically abused and those who used to stay at home during holidays had higher anxiety level than other adolescents