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

Abstract

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 mhaving 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.