The Prevalence of Antenatal Depression in South Asia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract Background Antenatal depression carries significant adverse implications for the health and well-being of women, babies and their families. While prevalence of perinatal mental disorders in low-and lower-middle-income countries tends to be higher compared to high-income countries, rates tend to vary widely among countries in certain regions such as South Asia. This study estimated the pooled prevalence of antenatal depression in South Asia and examined variations in individual countries. Methods We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis. A comprehensive search was conducted on thirteen electronic databases and grey sources for articles published between 1·1·2007 and 31·5·2018 from South Asian countries including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Studies reporting quantitative prevalence estimates of antenatal depression using a validated diagnostic/ screening tool identified, screened and appraised using a two-stage process. A meta-analysis was conducted using the proportion (%) of pregnant women identified as having antenatal depression as the primary outcome. Results Thirty-three studies involving 13,087 pregnant women were included in the meta-analysis. Overall pooled prevalence was 24·57% (95% CI: 19·34, 30·69). Prevalence rates for India (17·74%, 95% CI: 11·19, 26·96) and Sri Lanka (15·87%, 95% CI: 14·04, 17·88) were lower compared to the overall prevalence whereas the rates for Pakistan (32·2%, 95% CI: 23·11, 42·87) and Nepal (50%, 95% CI: 35·64,64·36) were higher. Conclusions While robust prevalence studies are sparse in most South Asian countries, one in four pregnant women is likely to experience antenatal depression in the region. The issue needs to be recognised in health policy and practice for resource allocation and capacity building at regional and national levels for prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Key messages One in four pregnant women is likely to experience antenatal depression in South Asia region. Targeted efforts are needed at national and regional levels for prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

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Diabetes among tuberculosis patients and its impact on tuberculosis treatment in South Asia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-81057-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Sanju Gautam ◽

Nipun Shrestha ◽

Sweta Mahato ◽

Tuan P. A. Nguyen ◽

Shiva Raj Mishra ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Sri Lanka ◽

Treatment Failure ◽

South Asia ◽

Treatment Outcomes ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Tb Treatment ◽

Effect Model ◽

Pooled Prevalence ◽

The Impact

AbstractThe escalating burden of diabetes is increasing the risk of contracting tuberculosis (TB) and has a pervasive impact on TB treatment outcomes. Therefore, we conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the burden of diabetes among TB patients and assess its impact on TB treatment in South Asia (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka). PubMed, Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE), and CINAHL databases were systematically searched for observational (cross-sectional, case–control and cohort) studies that reported prevalence of diabetes in TB patients and published between 1 January 1980 and 30 July 2020. A random-effect model for computing the pooled prevalence of diabetes and a fixed-effect model for assessing its impact on TB treatment were used. The review was registered with PROSPERO number CRD42020167896. Of the 3463 identified studies, a total of 74 studies (47 studies from India, 10 from Pakistan, four from Nepal and two from both Bangladesh and Sri-Lanka) were included in this systematic review: 65 studies for the prevalence of diabetes among TB patients and nine studies for the impact of diabetes on TB treatment outcomes. The pooled prevalence of diabetes in TB patients was 21% (95% CI 18.0, 23.0; I2 98.3%), varying from 11% in Bangladesh to 24% in Sri-Lanka. The prevalence was higher in studies having a sample size less than 300 (23%, 95% CI 18.0, 27.0), studies conducted in adults (21%, 95% CI 18.0, 23.0) and countries with high TB burden (21%, 95% CI 19.0, 24.0). Publication bias was detected based on the graphic asymmetry of the funnel plot and Egger’s test (p < 0.001). Compared with non-diabetic TB patients, patients with TB and diabetes were associated with higher odds of mortality (Odds Ratio (OR) 1.7; 95% CI 1.2, 2.51; I2 19.4%) and treatment failure (OR 1.7; 95% CI 1.1, 2.4; I2 49.6%), but not associated with Multi-drug resistant TB (OR 1.0; 95% CI 0.6, 1.7; I2 40.7%). This study found a high burden of diabetes among TB patients in South Asia. Patients with TB-diabetes were at higher risk of treatment failure and mortality compared to TB alone. Screening for diabetes among TB patients along with planning and implementation of preventive and curative strategies for both TB and diabetes are urgently needed.

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Association between ambient temperature and heat waves with mortality in South Asia: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Environment International ◽

10.1016/j.envint.2020.106170 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 146 ◽

pp. 106170

Author(s):

Asya Dimitrova ◽

Vijendra Ingole ◽

Xavier Basagaña ◽

Otavio Ranzani ◽

Carles Milà ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Ambient Temperature ◽

South Asia ◽

Heat Waves ◽

Meta Analysis

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Antenatal depression and its association with adverse birth outcomes in low and middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0227323 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. e0227323 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Abel Fekadu Dadi ◽

Emma R. Miller ◽

Lillian Mwanri

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Birth Outcomes ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Antenatal Depression ◽

Adverse Birth Outcomes ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Low And Middle Income

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Post-Stroke Psychiatric and Cognitive Symptoms in West Asia, South Asia and Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10163655 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (16) ◽

pp. 3655

Author(s):

Sangeetha Mahadevan ◽

Moon Fai Chan ◽

Marzieh Moghadas ◽

Maithili Shetty ◽

David T. Burke ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

South Asia ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Stroke Survivors ◽

Cognitive Symptoms ◽

Post Stroke ◽

Pooled Prevalence

Recent research has shown that the prevalence of stroke incidents and the number of survivors in developing countries surpass those from developed countries. This study aimed to enumerate the prevalence of post-stroke psychiatric and cognitive symptoms among stroke survivors from West and South Asia and Africa through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Data from each country was systematically acquired from five major databases (PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed/Medline, and Google Scholar (for any missing articles and grey literature)). Meta-analytic techniques were then used to estimate the prevalence of various post-stoke psychiatric and cognitive symptoms. A total of 36 articles were accrued from 11 countries, of which 25 were evaluated as part of the meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of post-stroke depression as per the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire, Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN), Geriatric Depression Scale, and the Montgomery–Asberg Depression Rating Scale ranged from 28.00 to 50.24%. Pooled prevalence of post-stroke anxiety based on the HADS and SCAN was 44.19% and 10.96%, respectively. The pooled prevalence of post-stroke cognitive impairment as per the Mini-Mental Status Examination was 16.76%. This present review has suggested that both psychiatric and cognitive symptoms are common among stroke survivors. Concerted efforts are needed to institute robust studies using culturally sensitive measures to contemplate mechanisms that address the unmet needs of this vulnerable population.

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