Common mental disorders in sub-Saharan Africa - What lessons for the developed world

IntroductionCommon mental disorders (CMDs) are a leading cause of disability globally. CMDs are highly prevalent in Zimbabwe and have been addressed by an evidence-based, task-shifting psychological intervention called the Friendship Bench (FB). The task-shifted FB programme guides clients through problem-solving therapy. It was scaled up across 36 implementation sites in Zimbabwe in 2016.Methods and analysisThis study will employ a mixed-method framework. It aims to: (1) use quantitative survey methodologies organised around the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption and Implementation and Maintenance evaluation framework to assess the current scaleup of the FB intervention and classify 36 clinics according to levels of performance; (2) use qualitative focus group discussions and semistructured interviews organised around the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research to analyse determinants of implementation success, as well as elucidate heterogeneity in implementation strategies through comparing high-performing and low-performing clinics; and (3) use the results from aims 1 and 2 to develop strategies to optimise the Friendship Bench intervention and apply this model in a cluster randomised controlled trial to evaluate potential improvements among low-performing clinics. The trial will be registered with the Pan African Clinical Trial Registry (www.pactr.org). The planned randomised controlled trial for the third research aim will be registered after completing aims one and two because the intervention is dependent on knowledge generated during these phases.Ethics and disseminationThe research protocol received full authorisation from the Medical Research Council of Zimbabwe (MRCZ A/242). It is anticipated that changes in data collection tools and consent forms will take place at all three phases of the study and approval from MRCZ will be sought. All interview partners will be asked for informed consent. The research team will prioritise open-access publications to disseminate research results.

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Cyber Security of Children

Security and Software for Cybercafes ◽

10.4018/978-1-59904-903-8.ch004 ◽

2008 ◽

pp. 46-61

Author(s):

Stephen M. Mutula

Keyword(s):

Cyber Security ◽

Service Providers ◽

Developed Countries ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Online Information ◽

Security Measures ◽

Internet Service ◽

Online Security ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Developed World

This author discusses issues and threats to children’s cyber security vis-à-vis access to useful children online literature and the implications for sub-saharan Africa. The author points out that whereas the benefits of online children literature are immense especially in Africa where there is paucity of print literature, increasing cyber security and crime targeting children is of growing concern to governments, school teachers, parents, and Internet service providers. The chapter observes that whereas the developed world has made attempts to put in place mechanisms and systems such as acceptable user policies and protection software to mitigate undesirable consequences of online insecurity to which children are the most vulnerable, Africa is lagging behind despite the pervading Internet on the continent. The author notes that censorship of online literature is not the panacea to cyber insecurity, but parents should work closely with teachers and service providers to find pragmatic ways of protecting children online. Africa could learn a lot from developed countries on how to balance between access to useful online information resources against the growing cyber crime targeting children. The author cautions that the future of online security with regard to children’s safety in cyberspace is bound to become more complex as technologies become more advanced and online predators evolve sophisticated ways to circumvent online security measures, calling for the development of a proactive security strategy to protect children online.

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ICT Is Not Gender Blind

Overcoming Gender Inequalities through Technology Integration - Advances in Human and Social Aspects of Technology ◽

10.4018/978-1-4666-9773-7.ch009 ◽

2016 ◽

pp. 174-193 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Adamkolo Mohammed Ibrahim ◽

Mohammed Alhaji Adamu

Keyword(s):

Gender Gap ◽

Gender Disparity ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Research Findings ◽

Software And Hardware ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Gender Based ◽

And Gender ◽

Online Library ◽

Developed World

This chapter critically reviewed literature on gender disparity associated with access and usage of ICT, focusing on the less developed world, especially Sub-Saharan Africa. The authors used relevant online literature sourced from research databases such as Google Scholar, Elsevier and Wiley Online Library. With the aid of graphical illustrations, the chapter aligned its argument with some critical global research findings regarding gender-based mobile phone and Internet usage and the concept of ICT and gender. The chapter concluded that ICT gender gap negatively affects the socio-economic development of women, and recommended that ICTs manufacturers should integrate gender-balanced software and hardware right at the time of production of the technologies.

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Prevalence and associated factors for suicidal ideation in the Lagos State Mental Health Survey, Nigeria

BJPsych Open ◽

10.1192/bjpo.bp.116.004333 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2 (6) ◽

pp. 385-389 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Abiodun O. Adewuya ◽

Bolanle A. Ola ◽

Olurotimi A. Coker ◽

Olayinka Atilola ◽

Mathew P. Zachariah ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Suicidal Ideation ◽

Associated Factors ◽

Common Mental Disorders ◽

Somatic Symptoms ◽

State Mental Health ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Local Data ◽

Effective Response ◽

Lagos State ◽

Sub Saharan

BackgroundTo combat the increasing rate of suicide, basic data on suicidal behaviours reflecting the uniqueness of the locality are needed in sub-Saharan Africa.AimsTo assess the prevalence of suicidal ideation and associated factors.MethodAdults (n=11 246) from the five administrative divisions of Lagos State completed questionnaires detailing suicidal ideation, socio-demographic details, common mental disorders (depression, anxiety and somatic symptoms), alcohol and psychoactive substance use disorders and disability.ResultsThe weighted prevalence of current suicidal ideation was 7.28% (s.e. 0.27). Independently associated factors were older age, being female, not married, low occupational group, depression, anxiety, somatic symptoms and disability.ConclusionsDespite the validity of cross-national surveys, there is need for individual countries to generate complementary local data to explain variability in rates and risk factors in order to plan for suicide prevention or develop timely and effective response.

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Association between Plasmodium falciparum malaria and the mental disorders in children between five and 19 years in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review

The JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports ◽

10.11124/jbisrir-2014-1126 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 133-165 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Bright Akpalu ◽

Kenneth Ae-Ngibise ◽

Francis Agbokey ◽

George Adjei ◽

Yeetey Enuameh

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Plasmodium Falciparum ◽

Mental Disorders ◽

Falciparum Malaria ◽

Plasmodium Falciparum Malaria ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Sub Saharan

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Scaling up public mental health care in Sub-Saharan Africa: insights from infectious disease

Global Mental Health ◽

10.1017/gmh.2021.41 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Susan M. Meffert ◽

Collene Lawhorn ◽

Linnet Ongeri ◽

Elizabeth Bukusi ◽

Holly R. Campbell ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Mental Disorders ◽

Mental Health Care ◽

Mental Healthcare ◽

Public Mental Health ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Care Needs ◽

Public Mental Health Care ◽

Sub Saharan

Abstract Introduction Models estimate that the disability burden from mental disorders in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) will more than double in the next 40 years. Similar to HIV, mental disorders are stigmatized in many SSA settings and addressing them requires community engagement and long-term treatment. Yet, in contrast to HIV, the public mental healthcare cascade has not been sustained, despite robust data on scalable strategies. We draw on findings from our International AIDS Society (IAS) 2020 virtual workshop and make recommendations for next steps in the scale up of the SSA public mental healthcare continuum. Discussion Early HIV surveillance and care cascade targets are discussed as important strategies for HIV response in SSA that should be adopted for mental health. Advocacy, including engagement with civil society, and targeted economic arguments to policymakers, are reviewed in the context of HIV success in SSA. Parallel opportunities for mental disorders are identified. Learning from HIV, communication of strategies that advance mental health care needs in SSA must be prioritized for broad global audiences. Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic is setting off a colossal escalation of global mental health care needs, well-publicized across scientific, media, policymaker, and civil society domains. The pandemic highlights disparities in healthcare access and reinvigorates the push for universal coverage. Learning from HIV strategies, we must seize this historical moment to improve the public mental health care cascade in SSA and capitalize on the powerful alliances ready to be forged. As noted by Ambassador Goosby in our AIDS 2020 workshop, ‘The time is now’.

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