Mapping the Burden of Conduct Disorder in the Middle East and North Africa: Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

This study aims to investigate the prevalence, incidence, and Years Lived with a Disability (YLDs) caused by conduct disorder in 21 countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Sex and age differences in conduct disorder were investigated as well as the trend of conduct disorder from 1990 to 2021. Data from the MENA were used for this study. This super region includes 21 countries. All-age count estimates and age-standardized rate (Per 100,000) were calculated for prevalence, incidence, and YLDs. Each of the disease burden indicators was examined in the period of 1990–2021, stratified by sex, age, and location, and the % change between 1990 and 2021 was reported. The 95% uncertainty interval was reported for each of the reported estimates. In 2021, there were 41 million cases of conduct disorder, globally. In 2021, there were 3.5 million cases of conduct disorder in MENA; the conduct disorder count had a significant growth from 1990. At the national level, the highest conduct disorder was in Iran. The lowest age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR) per 100,000 conduct disorder was in Syria. Of the total cases of conduct disorder in the MENA, 2.350 million were males and 1.100 million were females. The findings of this study showed an increase in the burden of conduct disorder over the past three decades in the MENA. Considering the demographic changes and population increase compared to three decades ago, as well as social, health, and economic developments, it is necessary to pay more attention to the health of children and adolescents in health-related policies.