O-17 The Association Between Sociodemographic Factors, Psychiatric Disorders and Juvenile Delinquency Among Patients Remanded to Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre Bahamas Between January 2011 to Decemb

Methods: Research design: This was a retrospective chart review and the study population included all adolescents ages 9–18 remanded by the court to the Child and Ado lescent Unit for delinquent offenses. Exclusion criteria included (1) medical records of patients admitted merely on a care order through the department of social services (chil dren in need of care). (2) Under-9 and over-18 patients. (3) Patients with unreadable medical records.

Results: Age and school enrollment substantially influ enced educational level (p<0.001). Their number of admis sions correlated with their living arrangement (p<0.001). The most common diagnoses were drug use disorder 239 (51.8%), disruptive behavior disorder 37.7%, conduct dis order 36.7%, oppositional defiant disorder 10.4%, major depressive disorder 3.9%, and post-traumatic stress disorder 17.7%. Uncontrollable behavior (173), aggravated assault (87), and burglary (56). Male sex, living with parents and siblings, living with relatives, and enrollment in grades 9-10 and 11-12 predicted drug-related status violations. Sub stance use disorder predicted drug-related status offenses (p =.000). Substance-abusing women were more likely to act out. Males were 11 times more likely than females to burglarize, and those with disruptive behavior disorders were 2.5 times more probable.

Conclusion: Research shows psychosocial disadvantage and mental illness cause juvenile criminality. To reduce negative effects and optimize psychosocial functioning, these correlations must be identified and managed. This will involve sensitizing parents, schools, health profession als, and vulnerable communities to delinquency and mental health issues and empowering them to seek care.