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Table 3 Association between parent reported barriers, symptom duration and parent reported impairment

From: Parent-perceived barriers to accessing services for their child’s mental health problems

 

Symptom duration prior to referrala

Impairment on SDQb

1–5 years

 > 5 years

Above the norm

Crude

Adjusted

Crude

Adjusted

Crude

Adjusted

Barriers related to the parents

Worried about the child having a record

0.63 (0.19–2.02)

0.58 (0.14–2.37)

0.99 (0.34–2.88)

0.96 (0.26–3.49)

2.40 (0.77–7.47)

2.30 (0.70–7.59)

Worried about what others think if they seek help

0.99 (0.30–3.28)

0.70 (0.16–3.08)

0.93 (0.29–2.96)

0.91 (0.23–3.60)

4.75 (1.50–15.06)

5.76 (1.79–18.48)

Worried about the child being removed if they seek help

4.79 (1.65–13.90)

3.06 (0.91–10.28)

4.85 (1.77–13.34)

3.32 (1.03–10.76)

3.26 (0.88–12.10)

3.08 (0.75–12.59)

Worried about confidentiality

–

–

–

–

3.83 (1.44–10.15)

3.57 (1.15–11.10)

Barriers related to services

Lack of information about where to seek help

3.44 (1.14–10.38)

3.35 (1.03–10.93)

4.91 (1.64–14.69)

4.62 (1.46–14.62)

1.41 (0.62–3.17)

1.23 (0.55–2.74)

Services unavailable

1.14 (0.47–2.77)

0.72 (0.25–2.08)

1.42 (0.58–3.47)

1.09 (0.37–3.19)

1.83 (0.81–4.17)

1.81 (0.74–4.42)

No one can help

1.50 (0.55–4.09)

1.19 (0.38–3.70)

1.87 (0.70–4.99)

1.65 (0.49–5.52)

2.87 (1.08–7.65)

2.91 (1.00–8.42)

Worried about the cost of getting help

3.07 (0.91–10.35)

2.79 (0.64–12.11)

2.30 (0.68–7.78)

2.26 (0.57–9.83)

1.26 (0.38–4.21)

1.19 (0.38–3.72)

Help not available at convenient time

–

–

–

–

0.71 (0.20–2.49)

0.50 (1.44–1.75)

Barriers related to cooperation with professionals

Professionals do not listen

3.97 (1.37–11.49)

2.91 (0.90–9.41)

4.30 (1.44–12.80)

2.85 (0.99–8.22)

2.79 (1.29–6.06)

2.56 (1.14–5.72)

Professionals refuse to initiate intervention/provide referral

1.56 (0.61–3.96)

1.14 (0.34–3.74)

2.52 (0.99–6.37)

1.86 (0.57–6.11)

2.33 (1.03–5.26)

2.16 (0.92–5.06)

Lack of communication between services

3.07 (0.96–9.85)

2.01 (0.61–6.60)

3.33 (1.12–9.91)

1.83 (0.56–5.98)

2.65 (1.16–6.06)

2.50 (1.02–6.14)

Bad previous experience with professionals

3.88 (1.07–13.98)

2.83 (0.70–11.48)

6.11 (1.77–21.05)

4.78 (1.17–19.45)

1.90 (0.82–4.39)

1.62 (0.67–3.93)

  1. aReference: Symptom duration < 1 year;
  2. Adjusted for sex, age, placement outside the home, previous psychiatric assessment, impairment score on SDQ and referral diagnosis.
  3. bReference: SDQ impairment score within the norm (80th percentile);
  4. Adjusted for sex, age, placement outside the home, previous psychiatric assessment, symptom duration and referral diagnosis.
  5. –, not possible to calculate OR for “Worried about confidentiality” and “Help not available at convenient time” according to symptom duration.
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Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health

ISSN: 1753-2000