Abstract summary 

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.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.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.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.

Authors & Co-authors:  Rajcumar Neelkant R NR Paruk Saeeda S

Study Outcome 

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