MOTHERS REPORTS OF BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS IN 3 GROUPS OF SOUTH-AFRICAN PRESCHOOL-CHILDREN - PREVALENCE, PERCEPTIONS, AND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

Sixty mothers of preschool children from African, Malay, and White gro ups in Cape ToWn, South Africa, were interviewed about the presentatio n, understanding, and management of behaviour problems. Overall sympto m prevalence was similar across groups' results coincided with interna tional findings. Differences were related in the main to material circ umstances. Certain problems viewed as signifying disorder by White mot hers-such as rocking and thumb sucking-were seen as part of a normal d evelopmental process by African mothers. Some of the problems inherent in South African transcultural psychiatry are discussed.