A qualitative study of the cultural appropriateness of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (DISC-IV) in South Africa

Background: The Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (DISC-IV) has been designed for use by trained laypersons. It therefore shows great promise for use in developing countries such as South Africa, where there is a lack of clinically trained and skilled professionals at the primary care level. Against this background, the aim of the current study was to investigate the sociocultural appropriateness of the DISC-IV for use with Sesotho families in South Africa. Methods: Qualitative methodology of expert review and contextualized content analyses were used. Ten Sesotho-speaking clinicians were recruited through a snowball sampling technique to the review the DISC through expert review reports. Results: Several themes emerged, including the structure of the DISC-IV, its computerized nature, Americanisms, problems in interpretation due to the adversity children live under, language problems, the effect of rural settings and education level, and cultural norms regarding psychiatric symptoms, gender, the experience of time, the expression of emotion, and family structure. Conclusion: Recommendations for the sociocultural adaptation and translation of the DISC into Sesotho are made.