Assessment of Subjective Distress, Anxiety and Depression in Mothers of Children Who Underwent Paediatric Surgery in Lagos, Southwest, Nigeria

Abstract

BACKGROUND
This study aimed at determining the prevalence of subjective distress, anxiety and depression among mothers of children who underwent surgical
operations, correlates and predictors of subjective distress, anxiety and depression.
METHODOLOGY
One hundred mothers of children who underwent surgical operations at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria were recruited
and assessed for subjective distress, with the Revised Impact of Event Scale, anxiety with State Trait Anxiety Inventory while depression with the Self-rating
Depression Scale. Some surgery-related factors were also evaluated.
RESULTS
Of the total participants, 18 (18%) met the criteria for subjective distress. Out of this group, 13 (13%) manifested with avoidance behaviour, 11 (11%)
experienced hyperarousal symptoms while 15 (15%) exhibitedre-experiencing symptoms. The majority 73 (73%) of the participants manifested with
anxiety while 37% experienced depression. Logistic regression model showed that only participants who were single (OR=1.01; 95% CI= 0.01-1.04,
p = .04); unemployed (OR = 1.05, 95% CI = 1.30 – 2.57, p = 0.02) and those with higher education (OR = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.35-2.71, p = .04) had
statistically signiï€cant results and also predicted psychopathology.
CONCLUSIONS
The ï€ndings of this study showed presence of subjective psychological distress among mothers of children who underwent surgery in Lagos, Nigeria.
Mothers of children who are scheduled for surgery should be given adequate pre and post surgical information in order to prevent psychological
disorders.