title: Caregivers' depressive symptoms and parent-report of child executive function among young children in Uganda.
abstract: Maternal mental health (particularly depression) may influence how they report on their child's behavior. Few research studies have focused on Sub-Saharan countries where pediatric HIV concentrates and impacts child neuropsychological development and caregiver mental health. We investigated the associations between caregivers' depressive symptoms and neuropsychological outcomes in HIV-infected (n=118) and HIV-exposed (n=164) Ugandan children aged 2-5 years. We compared performance-based tests of development (Mullen Scales of Early Learning, Color Object Association Test), to a caregiver report of executive function (Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, BRIEF). Caregivers were assessed with Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 depression subscale. The associations between all BRIEF indices and caregiver's depression symptoms were differential according to child's HIV status. Caregivers with greater depressive symptoms reported their HIV-infected children as having more behavioral problems related to executive functioning. Assessment of behavior of HIV-infected children should incorporate a variety of sources of information and screening of caregiver mental health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Michigan State University, 965 Fee Road, East Fee Hall A227, Lansing MI 48824.
authors.forename: Itziar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Familiar
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Noeline
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nakasujja
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Department, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway Street, Hampton House Room 861, Baltimore MD 21205.
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bass
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics and Probability, Michigan State University, 619 Red Cedar Rd., Wells Hall C423, Lansing MI 48824.
authors.forename: Alla
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sikorskii
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Department, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway Street, Hampton House Room 861, Baltimore MD 21205.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Michigan State University, 965 Fee Road, East Fee Hall A227, Lansing MI 48824.
authors.forename: Horacio
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ruisenor-Escudero
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bangirana
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University PO Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Opoka
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Michigan State University, 965 Fee Road, East Fee Hall A227, Lansing MI 48824.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Boivin
keywords: HIV/AIDS; children; depression; development; neuropsychological assessment