Slow Learners: Across-Sectional Study among Primary School Children in Kirkuk City

Background and Aims: Slower learners are pupils who have lower IQ scores than the average score of 100 but do not fall into mental disabilities. This study aimed to describe the sociodemographic characteristics of primary school children as well as to explore certain factors related to slow learning among these children in Kirkuk city

Methodology: A constructed questionnaire was completed by 102 randomly selected children, who were diagnosed with a slow learner, in Kirkuk city, during 2017. The questionnaire consisted of two parts, the first related to sociodemographic variables and the second related to clinical findings. Frequency, percentage, and Chi-Square Goodness of Fit were used for statistical analysis using SPSS version 19.

Results: The study revealed that more than half of the pupils were male which constitute (63.7%), more than half of their parents had low educational level, and most of them had moderate economic status (60.8%), majority of them live with both parents (87.3%).

Conclusion: In spite of the limitations of this study, it could be fairly concluded that low birth weight, type of delivery and genetic factors were considered as predictive factors for slow learning. So, more antenatal care had recommended for all mothers, especially who had risks of pregnancy.