Knowledge and misconceptions of parents of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder at a hospital in South Africa

BACKGROUND: Parents' knowledge and misconception about attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) influences their children's access to care, its management and outcome. The study aimed to investigate parents' knowledge and perceptions of ADHD.

METHODS: The cross-sectional survey of 79 parents of children (aged 5-17 years) with ADHD at a specialist child psychiatry clinic in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa, consisted of a socio-demographic and clinical questionnaire, and the Knowledge of Attention Disorders Scale questionnaire, was carried out.

RESULTS: Twenty-six (32.9%) parents consulted a traditional healer, of whom 84.6% did so before consulting a medical doctor, with 61.5% reporting that the healer suggested psychiatric referral. Most parents had some knowledge of their child's ADHD diagnosis but held various misconceptions about its treatment and associated factors: 92.4% believed that reducing sugar or food additives were effective to reduce symptoms; 78.5% that treatments focussing on punishment reduced the symptoms; 67.1% that prolonged use of stimulant medications leads to increased addiction (i.e. drug, alcohol) in adulthood.

CONCLUSION: Many parents had misconceptions about ADHD's causes and treatment, some having consulted traditional healers, indicating the need to increase awareness among health practitioners to ensure timeous treatment access. A parent focussed psycho-education programme is required that provides information about causes, symptoms, treatment and prognosis.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2020

Erschienen:

2020

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:62

Enthalten in:

South African family practice : official journal of the South African Academy of Family Practice/Primary Care - 62(2020), 1 vom: 03. Sept., Seite e1-e8

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Rajcumar, Neelkant R [VerfasserIn]
Paruk, Saeeda [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

African mental healthcare setting
Child psychiatry
Cultural factors
Journal Article
KwaZulu-Natal
Misconceptions
Perception
Treatment

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 07.12.2021

Date Revised 14.12.2021

published: Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.4102/safp.v62i1.5124

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM314688463