The Prevalence of Depressive Symptoms and Stigmatization Among Parents of Children With Intellectual Disabilities in Public Primary Special Schools in Nairobi
Abstract
Background: Parents of children with intellectual disabilities may develop depressive symptoms and are prone to stigmatization due to stressful challenges encountered when providing care for their children.
Objectives: The research aimed at establishing the prevalence of depressive symptoms and stigmatization among parents of children with intellectual disabilities.
Method: A cross-sectional descriptive study design was used. A sample of 121 parents in four public primary special schools in Nairobi were recruited .Data was collected by use of Three (3) questionnaires. Researcher designed -Socio-demographic questionnaire was used to obtain socio demographic information. BDI-II was used to screen depressive symptoms while DISC-12 was used to determine stigmatization among parents of children with intellectual disabilities.
Results : Most of the parents were female(77.8%) married( 69.9%), had post-secondary level of education ( 61.1%) employed ( 78.5%) with an income over Ksh 10,000/-( 68.8%). 41.3 % of parents met the criterion for being at risk of depression, Stigma and discrimination was found to be significantly related to parent‟s depressive symptoms independently of other variables.
Conclusion: Results suggest that parents of children with intellectual disabilities are likely to be at risk for depression and to be highly stigmatized. Interventions could be developed that have a focus on the health or well- being of parents. Reduction of society stigma could also help promote and shun stigma likely to yield psychological distress to parents.
Publisher
University Of Nairobi
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United StatesUsage Rights
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/Collections
The following license files are associated with this item: