Depression and Complicated Grief among Parents of Pediatric Cancer Patients in Cameroon: Implications for Cancer Education in Low-income Countries.

Bereaved parents of pediatric cancer patients experience severe grief and psychological distress, but studies on major depressive disorder (MDD) and complicated grief (CG) in Africa, including Cameroon, are lacking. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and predictors of MDD and CG among bereaved parents of deceased pediatric cancer patients in Cameroon. This cross-sectional study included parents of deceased pediatric cancer patients treated at Mbingo Baptist Hospital between 2015 and 2022. Multivariable stepwise logistic regression identified predictors of MDD and CG. The prevalence of CG was 86% and 66.7% of the subjects screened positive for MDD. MDD significant predictors included age [OR 1.09, 95% CI: 1.015-1.174, p = 0.018], financial hardship [OR 9.47, CI: 1.584-56.629, p = 0.014], and coping capacity [medium resilience OR 7.874, 95% CI: 1.385-23.728, p = 0.027]. Predictors of CG included age [OR 1.157, 95% CI: 1.012-1.322, p = 0.032], financial hardship [OR 11.501, 95% CI: 1.115-118.664, p = 0.04], and coping capacity [(low resilient copers OR 14.011, 95% CI: 1.136-156.867, p < 0.01), (medium resilient copers OR 19.023, 95% CI: 2.537-109.001, p < 0.01)]. The study revealed the high prevalence of MDD and CG among bereaved parents of pediatric cancer patients in Cameroon. Inaccurate knowledge about the child's prognosis and poor perceived social support were associated with compromised parental mental health. Personalized mental health support for assisting bereaved families and education for resilience to loss may improve the quality of life of families. The study may have implications for mental health and the the education of families in Cameroon and similar low-income countries.