Introduction:

Sleep plays a crucial role in the development of children and adolescents. Sleep disorders are one of the most common behavioral disorders in pediatric age. It affects 20%-30% of children, the most common being childhood behavioral insomnia. The Children Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) evaluates the sleep of school-aged children, validated in Portuguese for application from 2-10 years-old. This study aimed to characterize sleep habits and disorders in a healthy pediatric population in Health Center in the city of Braga and to verify the usefulness and importance of CSHQ-PT.

Material and methods:

Descriptive correlational and cross-sectional study in a sample of children aged 2-10 years using the CSHQ-PT. Sleep Disorder Index (SDI) with a cut-off value of 44. Sample selected by convenience. Questionnaires applied during 3 months before the Child and Youth Health consultation.

Results:

A total of 157 questionnaires were filed. SDI above the cutoff value in it was found that 67.3%, with higher values in the younger age group and when parental perception is positive. Subscales with higher values in parasomnias for males, and in resistance to going to bed, anxiety in sleep and night awakenings in younger children. Positive correlation between night awakenings and the number of minutes slept during weekdays.

Discussion/conclusion:

High incidence of sleep disorders, like results previously published. Median of sleeping hours in agreement with the recommended by the National Sleep Foundation. Higher SDI values at preschool age. The disparity between parental identification and the existence of a sleep disorder stands out.

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