Prevalence and risk factors associated with mental disorders among migrants in the MENA region: A systematic review and meta-analysis
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View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.Refugees in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region face high rates of mental illness, including depression and PTSD. This systematic review highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions and further research into risk factors and prevention strategies for this vulnerable population.
Area Of Science
- Public Health
- Mental Health Research
- Systematic Review Methodology
Background
- The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has seen significant displacement due to recent events, increasing refugee vulnerability to mental health disorders.
- Previous studies on refugee mental health prevalence have not specifically focused on the MENA region.
- This systematic review addresses this gap by estimating mental illness prevalence and identifying risk factors in MENA refugees.
Purpose Of The Study
- To systematically review and estimate the prevalence of mental disorders among refugees, asylum seekers, migrants, and internally displaced people in the MENA region.
- To identify associated risk factors for mental illness in this population.
- To overcome the methodological limitations of individual studies through a comprehensive systematic review.
Main Methods
- Conducted comprehensive searches of relevant databases for published articles.
- Included only cross-sectional studies assessing mental disorders in displaced populations within the MENA region.
- Utilized RStudio (version 2023.12.0 + 369) with the netmeta package for data analysis and JBI for quality assessment.
Main Results
- Analyzed 32 cross-sectional studies involving 21,659 participants.
- Reported high prevalence rates: 42% for depression, 43% for anxiety, 22% for stress, and 45% for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Identified being female as a risk factor for depression and PTSD, with unemployment exacerbating PTSD risk; marriage showed a protective effect against PTSD.
Conclusions
- Refugees in the MENA region exhibit higher rates of mental illness compared to global averages.
- Significant efforts are required to identify the underlying causes of these mental health conditions.
- Further research and targeted interventions are crucial for the management and prevention of mental illness in this population.
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