BACKGROUND: one of the serious behavioral problems that affect youth health mentally, physically and socially is Juvenile delinquency. The act by a juvenile is considered delinquency if it is considered a crime when committed by an adult, as well as illegal acts because of offenders age.OBJECTIVE: Is to determine the psycho-behavioral and socio-economic profile of juvenile offenders in Wasit Province.

STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional hospital-based study targeted all delinquents (n=510) who referred by criminal courts to psychiatric unit for personality study using ICD-10 clinical based interview during 2016 to 2020. Data collected from files of offenders by a routine interviewing (with highly secured information).

RESULTS: The mean age ±SD of the indicted was 17.9±2.9 years, male youths consist 96%, with a history of low socioeconomic status, 74% of them lived within family size of ≥7 members; 50% rank in 1st. to 3rd. in among all siblings in their families; 17% losses their fathers. Of total sample, one-half of offenders presented with school dropout and 44% engaged in premature labor. Most of youth presented with good mental health, sometimes they appear with consistent personality only 19 (4%) of them presented with speech and movement disorder, and unstable and uncooperative personality. Of 290 delinquents; 108 (37%) were tobacco smoker and 43 (15%) presented with tattoo. Dropout offenders presented with fourfold smoking and tattoo than students with an Odds Ratios of 3.8 (95% CI 2.25-6.4), and 4.0 (95% CI 1.9-8.7) respectively. 5% of youths have a history of previous offence. (38%) of offenders accused with theft or robbery crimes followed by homicide (16%) and physical fighting or scrimmage (12%).

CONCLUSIONS: According to the psychiatric interview, the majority of the indicted were not mentally ill. Low socioeconomic status, live in large family, losses fathers, school dropout, and premature work all these factors may contribute to increase the burden of juvenile delinquency in Wasit province. The prevalence of healthy risk behavior in school dropout delinquents more than in students. Theft and robbery, homicide and physical fighting as a crimes were on the top of the list. Educational and health programs that encourage children to enrolled school and increase awareness of negative impact of juvenile delinquency on individual and community should be considered urgently.

Keywords: juvenile delinquency, psycho-behavioral, risky behavior, school dropout, Wasit, Iraq.

DOI: http://doi.org/10.24086/biohs2022/paper.766