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Recognition of depression in children in general hospital-based paediatric units in Kenya: practice and policy implications

Authors :
Mutiso Victoria N
Khasakhala Lincoln I
Ndetei David M
Mbwayo Anne W
Source :
Annals of General Psychiatry, Vol 8, Iss 1, p 25 (2009)
Publication Year :
2009
Publisher :
BMC, 2009.

Abstract

Abstract Background Physical disorders are commonly comorbid with depression in children attending general medical facilities. However, the depression component is rarely recognised. Methods A questionnaire on sociodemographics and history of presenting medical conditions was administered together with the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) to all 11-year-old to 17-year-old children attending at nine medical facilities. Results In all, 408 children were recruited from 9 health facilities. Whereas the clinicians diagnosed a mental disorder in only 2.5% of the sample studied, 41.3% had CDI scores that suggested mild to moderate depression. The highest proportion of children with depressive symptomatology was found at the Kenyatta National and Teaching Referral Hospital. Conclusion Although prevalence rate for depression among children is high, detection rates remain low. This finding has clinical practice and policy implications within and outside Kenya.

Subjects

Subjects :
Psychiatry
RC435-571

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1744859X
Volume :
8
Issue :
1
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Annals of General Psychiatry
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.11bb14f1bf4a4d62ab75f12229e27f94
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1186/1744-859X-8-25