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Prevalence of child mental health problems in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review

Melissa A Cortina1, Anisha Sodha, Mina Fazel

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7JX United Kingdom. cortina.melissa@gmail.com

Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
|March 7, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Child mental health problems are prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, affecting approximately 1 in 7 children. Specific psychiatric disorders impact about 1 in 10, with higher rates in deprived areas.

Area of Science:

  • Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
  • Global Mental Health
  • Public Health Research

Background:

  • Child mental health issues represent a significant global burden.
  • Sub-Saharan Africa faces unique challenges in addressing pediatric mental healthcare needs.
  • Community-based data on child psychopathology prevalence in this region is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically assess the prevalence of child mental health problems in community settings across sub-Saharan Africa.
  • To synthesize existing research on general psychopathology in children aged 0-16 years in the region.
  • To identify potential sociodemographic correlates of these mental health conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic literature search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PsychInfo, supplemented by reference tracking and expert communication.
  • Inclusion of community-based studies from sub-Saharan Africa assessing general psychopathology in children (0-16 years).
  • Meta-analysis of data from 10 studies encompassing 9713 children, extracting details on methodology and prevalence rates.

Main Results:

  • Eleven studies met inclusion criteria; 10 were included in the meta-analysis, covering 6 countries.
  • Overall prevalence of psychopathology was 14.3% (95% CI, 13.6%-15.0%).
  • Screening questionnaires yielded higher prevalence rates (19.8%) compared to clinical diagnostic instruments (9.5%).

Conclusions:

  • Substantial levels of mental health problems are evident among children and adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa.
  • Approximately 1 in 7 children experience significant psychopathology, with 1 in 10 having a specific psychiatric disorder.
  • Sociodemographic factors, particularly deprivation, are linked to increased risk, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
Abstract

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