The prevalence of mental health problems in sub-Saharan adolescents: A systematic review.

Journal: PloS one

Volume: 16

Issue: 5

Year of Publication: 2021

Affiliated Institutions:  Department of Social Work, University of Applied Sciences, Hamburg, Germany. Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience Institute, SAMRC Unit on Risk & Resilience in Mental Disorders, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa. Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa. Department of Health and Well-being, Turku University of Applied Sciences, Turku, Province of Western Finland, Finland. Department of Psychiatry, SAMRC Unit on the Genomics of Brain Disorders and SARChI Chair in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa. School of Nursing, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, Free State Province, South Africa.

Abstract summary 

Most research regarding child and adolescent mental health prevention and promotion in low-and middle-income countries is undertaken in high-income countries. This systematic review set out to synthesise findings from epidemiological studies, published between 2008 and 2020, documenting the prevalence of mental health problems in adolescents from across sub-Saharan Africa.A systematic search of multiple databases (MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Scopus) and Google Scholar was conducted guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Reviewer's manual for systematic reviews of observational epidemiological studies. Studies included reported prevalence outcomes for adolescents aged 10-19 using either clinical interviews or standardized questionnaires to assess psychopathology. Clinical samples were excluded.The search yielded 1 549 records of which 316 studies were assessed for eligibility and 51 met the inclusion criteria. We present a qualitative synthesis of 37 of these 51 included articles. The other 14 studies reporting prevalence rates for adolescents living with HIV are published elsewhere. The prevalence of depression, anxiety disorders, emotional and behavioural difficulties, posttraumatic stress and suicidal behaviour in the general adolescent population and selected at-risk groups in 16 sub-Saharan countries (with a total population of 97 616 adolescents) are reported.

Authors & Co-authors:  Jörns-Presentati Astrid A Napp Ann-Kathrin AK Dessauvagie Anja S AS Stein Dan J DJ Jonker Deborah D Breet Elsie E Charles Weslin W Swart Renier L RL Lahti Mari M Suliman Sharain S Jansen Ronelle R van den Heuvel Leigh L LL Seedat Soraya S Groen Gunter G

Study Outcome 

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Citations :  Patel V, Flisher AJ, Nikapota A, Malhotra S. Promoting child and adolescent mental health in low and middle income countries. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2008;49: 313–334. 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2007.01824.x
Authors :  14
Identifiers
Doi : e0251689
SSN : 1932-6203
Study Population
Male,Female
Mesh Terms
Adolescent
Other Terms
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Qualitative,Systemic Review
Country of Study
Publication Country
United States