A pilot study evaluating depression in mothers with children diagnosed with Down syndrome in state healthcare

Abstract

Parenting a child who has an intellectual disability has been shown to increase the risk for developing depression. The purpose of this study was to screen for depression in mothers with a child diagnosed with Down syndrome in state health care in Johannesburg, and to identify associated sociodemographic variables. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to assess depression in participants along with a 10-item sociodemographic questionnaire, administered to 30 biological mothers of children postnatally diagnosed with Down syndrome. Eight mothers (26.7%) screened positive for depression with an EPDS score of 13 or greater. A statistically significant association was found between an HIV positive status and mothers who had an EPDS score of 13 or greater (p = 0.01). No significant association between a positive screening score for depression and various other sociodemographic factors were identified. Mothers with children diagnosed with Down syndrome, may be vulnerable towards developing depression.