Assessment of prevalence and determinants of anxiety and psychological distress symptoms in Ebola child and adolescent survivors and orphans in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Journal: Journal of affective disorders

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Affiliated Institutions:  School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Interdisciplinary Centre for Black Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; University of Ottawa Research Chair on Black Health, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: jcenat@uottawa.ca. School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Department of psychology, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Congo. Department of psychology, Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France.

Abstract summary 

To date, only three studies investigated the mental health of youth affected by Ebola virus disease (EVD). None explored anxiety and psychological distress symptoms in survivors or orphans. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and determinants of anxiety and psychological distress symptoms among survivors and orphans of the 2018-2020 Ebola epidemic in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) during the COVID-19 pandemic.A representative sample of 416 participants (mean age = 13.37, SD = 2.79, 51.20 % girls, 146 survivors, 233 orphans, and 34 orphan-survivor participants) completed measures evaluating anxiety, psychological distress, exposure, resilience, stigmatization related to Ebola and COVID-19.55.88 % and 55.96 % of survivors and orphans experienced severe symptoms of anxiety and psychological distress. Participants who were both survivors and orphans presented higher prevalence of anxiety and psychological distress (94.12 % and 100 %) compared to survivors (74.03 % and 81.82 %) or orphans (37.99 % and 33.33 %), χ = 70.63, p < .001; χ = 113.50, p < .001. Ebola and COVID-19 related stigmatization were the most important determinants of anxiety (B = 0.40, p < .001; B = 0.37, p < .001) and psychological distress (B = 0.48, p < .001; B = 0.44, p < .001). Resilience was negatively associated with both anxiety and psychological distress. The final regression models explained 49 % and 85 % of the variance of anxiety and psychological distress.The cross-sectional design used prevents to establish causal link.Ebola Children and adolescents' survivors and orphans are at major risk of experiencing anxiety and psychological distress in Eastern RDC affected by years of armed conflict. Massive resources are needed to develop and implement programs to reduce stigma and support mental health.

Authors & Co-authors:  Cénat Jude Mary JM Jacob Grace G Darius Wina Paul WP Farahi Seyed Mohammad Mahdi Moshirian SMMM Bukaka Jacqueline J Luyeye Noble N Derivois Daniel D

Study Outcome 

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Statistics
Citations : 
Authors :  7
Identifiers
Doi : S0165-0327(24)01386-7
SSN : 1573-2517
Study Population
Male,Female
Mesh Terms
Other Terms
Anxiety;COVID-19;Ebola virus disease;Psychological distress;Resilience;Stigmatization
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Country of Study
Republic of the congo
Publication Country
Netherlands