Performance of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children Version 2.3 (DISC-2.3) in an informal settlement area in South Africa.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the performance of the Xhosa Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children Version 2.3 (DISC-2.3) in a community study of African children and adolescents in Khayelitsha, a largely informal settlement area in Cape Town, South Africa.


METHODS
A cross-sectional community study of 500 youths aged 6 to 16 years was undertaken using a systematic sampling strategy based on random starting points in the community. Three trained Xhosa-speaking lay interviewers administered the DISC-2.3 to youths and their parents in their homes. Additional questions included degree of impairment, selected risk factors, and service use.


RESULTS
The administration of the Xhosa DISC-2.3 in an informal settlement area was both feasible and acceptable to respondents. Psychiatric disorder with impairment was recorded for 76 (15.2%) of the children and adolescents. Consultation had been sought in only 20 cases, mostly from medical doctors, except for 3 who had attended indigenous healers. Rates of disorder were significantly higher among respondents who were living in unserviced areas or who came from homes where food was needed.


CONCLUSIONS
The DISC is a potentially useful instrument even in the presence of major constraints on conducting epidemiological research.
Robertson
B A
BA
Department of Psychiatry, University of Cape Town, South Africa. brian@ray.uct.ac.za
Ensink
K
K
Parry
C D
CD
Chalton
D
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population