The impact of multimorbidity on adult physical and mental health in low- and middle-income countries: what does the study on global ageing and adult health (SAGE) reveal?

Background.Less than 3% of articles published in the peer reviewed literature include data from low- and middle-income countries – where 90% of the world's infants live.Methods.In this paper, we discuss the context of infancy in Africa and the conditions of adversity obtaining in Africa.Results.We discuss the implications of poverty on parenting, and linked to this outline the impact of maternal depression on infant development.Conclusions.We outline three features of the field of infant mental health research in Africa, and issue a call for action about what we believe is needed in order to develop the field in the next decade.

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407 - Living through the pandemic as an older person: Long-term psychological impacts in low- and middle-income countries

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s1041610221001666 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 33 (S1) ◽

pp. 33-33

Author(s):

Clarissa Giebel ◽

Bwire Ivan ◽

Maria Isabel Zuluaga ◽

Suresh Kumar ◽

Mark Gabbay ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Well Being ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Health And Social Care ◽

The Impact ◽

Low And Middle Income

Background:The pandemic has put a huge strain on people’s mental health, with varying restrictions affecting people’s lives. Little is known how the pandemic affects older adults’ mental health, particularly those living in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where restrictions are affecting people’s access to basic necessities. Thus, the aim of this 3-country study was to understand the long- term impacts of the pandemic on the mental well-being of older adults with and without dementia in LMICs.Methods:We are collecting 30 baseline and 15 follow-up interviews with older adults (aged 60+), people with dementia, and family carers in Colombia, India, and Uganda, as well as a baseline and follow-up focus group with health and social are professionals in each country. Interviews are conducted remotely over the phone due to pandemic restrictions, with data collection taking place between March and July 2021. Transcripts are translated into English before being analysed using thematic analysis.Results:To date, we have completed close to 90 baseline interviews and 3 focus groups with health and social care professionals. Analysis is ongoing, but findings are capturing the detrimental second wave in India and follow-up interviews will capture the longitudinal impacts on mental health.Conclusions:Whilst vaccines are starting to be rolled out in LMICs, albeit at different rates, the virus will likely take much longer to be somewhat managed in LMICs. This leaves more room for people’s physical as well as mental health to be impacted by the restrictions, and with often limited mental health service coverage, it is all the more important o understand the impact of the pandemic on older people’s mental health.

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Economic crisis and mental health – findings from low- and middle income countries

Die Psychiatrie ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1669557 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 14 (02) ◽

pp. 86-89

Author(s):

M. Koesters ◽

S. Weinmann

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Relative Deprivation ◽

Empirical Studies ◽

Economic Crises ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

The Social ◽

Few Data ◽

The Impact ◽

Low And Middle Income

Summary Background: There is consistent evidence of an inverse relationship between poverty and mental health. However, the influence of economic crises on mental health is not well studied and there are very few data particularly from low- and middle income countries (LAMICs). This review discusses theories and views on the impact of economic crises on mental health in LAMICs and reports the results of two empirical studies. Result: It appears that relative deprivation and the social and psychological meaning of deep changes in the economic situation of a person, a family or a group, have a greater effect on mental health than just material circumstances and unemployment.

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Risk Factors and Disability Associated with Low Back Pain in Older Adults in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. Results from the WHO Study on Global AGEing and Adult Health (SAGE)

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0127880 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. e0127880 ◽

Cited By ~ 54

Author(s):

Jennifer Stewart Williams ◽

Nawi Ng ◽

Karl Peltzer ◽

Alfred Yawson ◽

Richard Biritwum ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Older Adults ◽

Low Back Pain ◽

Back Pain ◽

Low Back ◽

Adult Health ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Global Ageing ◽

Low And Middle Income

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Mental Health in low-and middle income countries (LMICs): Going beyond the need for funding

Health Prospect ◽

10.3126/hprospect.v17i1.20351 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 12-17 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Folashade T Alloh ◽

Pramod Regmi ◽

Igoche Onche ◽

Edwin Van Teijlingen ◽

Steven Trenoweth

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Global Mental Health ◽

Poor Mental Health ◽

Health Issues ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Mental Health Issues ◽

The Impact ◽

Low And Middle Income

Despite being globally recognised as an important public health issue, mental health is still less prioritised as a disease burden in many Low-and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). More than 70% of the global mental health burden occurs in these countries. We discussed mental health issues in LMICs under themes such as abuse and mental illness, cultural influence on mental health, need for dignity in care, meeting financial and workforce gaps and the need for national health policy for the mental health sector. We highlighted that although mental health education and health care services in most LMICs are poorly resourced; there is an urgent need to address issues beyond funding that contribute to poor mental health. In order to meet the increasing challenge of mental health illness in LMICs, there is a need for effort to address cultural and professional challenges that contribute to poor mental health among individuals. We have a notion that mental health should be integrated into primary health care in LMICs. Creating awareness on the impact of some cultural attitudes/practices will encourage better uptake of mental health services and increase the ease when discussing mental health issues in these countries which can contribute to reducing the poor mental health in LMICs.

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The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on physical and mental health of Asians: A study of seven middle-income countries in Asia

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0246824 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

pp. e0246824

Author(s):

Cuiyan Wang ◽

Michael Tee ◽

Ashley Edward Roy ◽

Mohammad A. Fardin ◽

Wandee Srichokchatchawan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Risk Factors ◽

General Population ◽

Well Being ◽

Physical Symptoms ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Middle Income ◽

Event Scale ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

The Impact

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted the economy, livelihood, and physical and mental well-being of people worldwide. This study aimed to compare the mental health status during the pandemic in the general population of seven middle income countries (MICs) in Asia (China, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam). All the countries used the Impact of Event Scale–Revised (IES-R) and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) to measure mental health. There were 4479 Asians completed the questionnaire with demographic characteristics, physical symptoms and health service utilization, contact history, knowledge and concern, precautionary measure, and rated their mental health with the IES-R and DASS-21. Descriptive statistics, One-Way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and linear regression were used to identify protective and risk factors associated with mental health parameters. There were significant differences in IES-R and DASS-21 scores between 7 MICs (p<0.05). Thailand had all the highest scores of IES-R, DASS-21 stress, anxiety, and depression scores whereas Vietnam had all the lowest scores. The risk factors for adverse mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic include age <30 years, high education background, single and separated status, discrimination by other countries and contact with people with COVID-19 (p<0.05). The protective factors for mental health include male gender, staying with children or more than 6 people in the same household, employment, confidence in doctors, high perceived likelihood of survival, and spending less time on health information (p<0.05). This comparative study among 7 MICs enhanced the understanding of metal health in the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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