Self-Stigma And Vicarious Stigma Experienced By Parents Of Children With Neurodevelopmental Disorders Living In Rivers State, Nigeria

Backgroundparents of children living with Neurodevelopmental Disorders (NDDs) continue to be shamed despite the herculean task of caring for these children. Under the weight of this "double burden" parents experience double stigma: internalized and public with consequent mental health challenges. AimThis study was conducted to explore the prevalence of self and vicarious stigma among parents of children with NDDs in Rivers State, Nigeria, as well as the correlations of these stigma with depression among these parents. MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study of 62 parents in Port Harcourt, Nigeria employing quantitative data collection methods. Data was collected via semi-structured interviewer administered questionnaires and analysed using SPSS version. Data was summarized using proportions, mean, standard deviations. Chi square and Spearmans correlation test were done and the level of significance was pre-determined at 5% (p<0.005). ResultsAutism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) was the commonest primary diagnosis of children in the study centres at 62.9 %. The mean age of parents was 36.4+/-7.6 years. About half of parents experienced self-stigma (50.0 %), whereas 61.3 % of parents experienced sadness due to vicarious stigma and 54.8 % experienced anger due to vicarious stigma. Overall, 56.5 % of parents suffered from depression. ConclusionVicarious stigma which is public stigma on parents of children with NDDs overshadowed self-stigma. This makes urgent the need for more public education on ways society can destigmatize NDDs and provide more support for parents. Across board, stigma in any form is present can cause depression in parents, hence there is need for long term psychosocial support for these parents.