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 Afric an children and adolescents in Khayelitsha, a largely informal settlement a rea in Cape Town, South Africa. Method: A cross-sectional community study o f 500 youths aged 6 to 16 years was undertaken using a systematic sampling strategy based on random starting points in the community. Three trained Xh osa-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 th e Xhosa DISC-2.3 in an informal settlement area was both feasible and accep table to respondents. Psychiatric disorder with impairment was recorded for 76 (15.2%) of the children and adolescents. Consultation had been sought i n only 20 cases, mostly from medical doctors, except for 3 who had attended indigenous healers. Rates of disorder were significantly higher among resp ondents who were living in unserviced areas or who came from homes where fo od was needed. Conclusions: The DISC is a potentially useful instrument eve n in the presence of major constraints on conducting epidemiological resear ch.