HIV/AIDS and mental health research in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review

2011 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erica Breuer ◽  
Landon Myer ◽  
Helen Struthers ◽  
John A Joska
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Mental Health Research ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Hiv Aids

scholarly journals Developing mental health research in sub-Saharan Africa: capacity building in the AFFIRM project

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Schneider ◽  
K. Sorsdahl ◽  
R. Mayston ◽  
J. Ahrens ◽  
D. Chibanda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Capacity Building ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Mental Health Research ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Building Activities ◽  
Building Program ◽  
Short Courses

BackgroundThere remains a large disparity in the quantity, quality and impact of mental health research carried out in sub-Saharan Africa, relative to both the burden and the amount of research carried out in other regions. We lack evidence on the capacity-building activities that are effective in achieving desired aims and appropriate methodologies for evaluating success.MethodsAFFIRM was an NIMH-funded hub project including a capacity-building program with three components open to participants across six countries: (a) fellowships for an M.Phil. program; (b) funding for Ph.D. students conducting research nested within AFFIRM trials; (c) short courses in specialist research skills. We present findings on progression and outputs from the M.Phil. and Ph.D. programs, self-perceived impact of short courses, qualitative data on student experience, and reflections on experiences and lessons learnt from AFFIRM consortium members.ResultsAFFIRM delivered funded research training opportunities to 25 mental health professionals, 90 researchers and five Ph.D. students across 6 countries over a period of 5 years. A number of challenges were identified and suggestions for improving the capacity-building activities explored.ConclusionsHaving protected time for research is a barrier to carrying out research activities for busy clinicians. Funders could support sustainability of capacity-building initiatives through funds for travel and study leave. Adoption of a train-the-trainers model for specialist skills training and strategies for improving the rigor of evaluation of capacity-building activities should be considered.

scholarly journals The Africa Ethics Working Group (AEWG): a model of collaboration for psychiatric genomic research in Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 190
Author(s):  
Dorcas Kamuya ◽  
Mary A. Bitta ◽  
Adamu Addissie ◽  
Violet Naanyu ◽  
Andrea Palk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Working Group ◽  
Global Mental Health ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Global South ◽  
Mental Health Research ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Genomic Research ◽  
Sub Saharan

The Africa Ethics Working Group (AEWG) is a South-South-North collaboration of bioethics and mental health researchers from sub-Saharan Africa, working to tackle emerging ethical challenges in global mental health research. Initially formed to provide ethical guidance for a neuro-psychiatric genomics research project, AEWG has evolved to address cross cutting ethical issues in mental health research aimed at addressing equity in North-South collaborations. Global South refers to economically developing countries (sub-Saharan Africa in this context) and Global North to economically developed countries (primarily Europe, UK and North America). In this letter we discuss lessons that as a group we have learnt over the last three years; lessons that similar collaborations could draw on. With increasing expertise from Global South as an outcome of several capacity strengthening initiatives, it is expected that the nature of scientific collaborations will shift to a truly equitable partnership. The AEWG provides a model to rethink contributions that each partner could make in these collaborations.

scholarly journals Mental health research capacity building in sub-Saharan Africa: the African Mental Health Research Initiative

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dixon Chibanda ◽  
Melanie Abas ◽  
Rosemary Musesengwa ◽  
Chris Merritt ◽  
Katherine Sorsdahl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Research Capacity ◽  
Mental Health Research ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Theory Of Change ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Research Initiative ◽  
Sub Saharan

Abstract Mental, neurological and substance use (MNS) disorders are a leading, but neglected, cause of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. The treatment gap for MNS is vast with only 10% of people with MNS disorders in low-income countries accessing evidence-based treatments. Reasons for this include low awareness of the burden of MNS disorders and limited evidence to support development, adaptation and implementation of effective and feasible treatments. The overall goal of the African Mental Health Research Initiative (AMARI) is to build an African-led network of MNS researchers in Ethiopia, Malawi, South Africa and Zimbabwe, who are equipped to lead high quality mental health research programs that meet the needs of their countries, and to establish a sustainable career pipeline for these researchers with an emphasis on integrating MNS research into existing programs such as HIV/AIDS. This paper describes the process leading to the development of AMARI's objectives through a theory of change workshop, successes and challenges that have been faced by the consortium in the last 4 years, and the future role that AMARI could play in further building MNS research capacity by brining on board more institutions from low- and middle-income countries with an emphasis on developing an evidence-based training curriculum and a research-driven care service.

scholarly journals A systematic review of existing national priorities for child health research in sub-Saharan Africa

2005 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
George H Swingler ◽  
James H Irlam ◽  
William M Macharia ◽  
Félix Tietche ◽  
Martin M Meremikwu
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Child Health ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Child Health Research

scholarly journals Understanding Mental Health in the Context of Adolescent Pregnancy and HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review Identifying a Critical Evidence Gap

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn J. Roberts ◽  
Colette Smith ◽  
Lucie Cluver ◽  
Elona Toska ◽  
Lorraine Sherr
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Mental Disorder ◽  
Protective Factors ◽  
Adolescent Pregnancy ◽  
Common Mental Disorder ◽  
Risk And Protective Factors ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Living With Hiv

AbstractAdolescent (10–19 years) mental health remains an overlooked global health issue. Rates of adolescent pregnancy within sub-Saharan Africa are some of the highest in the world and occur at the epicentre of the global HIV epidemic. Both experiencing adolescent pregnancy and living with HIV have been found to be associated with adverse mental health outcomes, when investigated separately. Poor mental health may have implications for both parent and child. The literature regarding mental health within groups experiencing both HIV and adolescent pregnancy is yet to be summarised. This systematic review sought to identify (1) the prevalence/occurrence of common mental disorder amongst adolescents who are living with HIV and have experienced pregnancy, (inclusive of adolescent fathers) in sub-Saharan Africa (2) risk and protective factors for common mental disorder among this group, and (3) interventions (prevention/treatment) for common mental disorder among this group. A systematic search of electronic databases using pre-defined search terms, supplemented by hand-searching, was undertaken in September 2020. One author and an independent researcher completed a title and abstract screening of results from the search. A full-text search of all seemingly relevant manuscripts (both quantitative and qualitative) was undertaken and data extracted using pre-determined criteria. A narrative synthesis of included studies is provided. Quality and risk of bias within included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. A systematic keyword search of databases and follow-up hand searching identified 2287 unique records. Of these, thirty-eight full-text quantitative records and seven full-text qualitative records were assessed for eligibility. No qualitative records met the eligibility criteria for inclusion within the review. One quantitative record was identified for inclusion. This study reported on depressive symptomology amongst 14 pregnant adolescents living with HIV in Kenya, identifying a prevalence of 92.9%. This included study did not meet the high methodological quality of this review. No studies were identified reporting on risk and protective factors for common mental disorder, and no studies were found identifying any specific interventions for common mental disorder for this group, either for prevention or for treatment. The limited data identified within this review provides no good quality evidence relating to the prevalence of common mental disorder among adolescents living with HIV who have experienced pregnancy in sub-Saharan Africa. No data was available relating to risk and protective factors or interventions for psychological distress amongst this group. This systematic review identifies a need for rigorous evidence regarding the mental health of pregnant and parenting adolescents living with HIV, and calls for granular interrogation of existing data to further our understanding of the needs of this group. The absence of research on this topic (both quantitative and qualitative) is a critical evidence gap, limiting evidence-based policy and programming responses, as well as regional development opportunities.

scholarly journals Under-nutrition and associated factors among children infected with human immunodeficiency virus in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

2022 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jemberu Nigussie ◽  
Bekahegn Girma ◽  
Alemayehu Molla ◽  
Moges Mareg ◽  
Esmelealem Mihretu
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
Clinical Staging ◽  
Under Nutrition ◽  
Pooled Prevalence ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Hiv Aids

Abstract Background In the developing world, such as the sub-Saharan African region, HIV/AIDS has worsened the impact of under-nutrition in children. HIV infected children are highly vulnerable to under-nutrition. Therefore, the objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to estimate the pooled prevalence of under-nutrition, and the pooled effect sizes of associated factors among HIV-infected children in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods The primary studies for this review were retrieved from PubMed/ MEDLINE online, Science Direct, Hinari, web of science, CINHAL, EMBASE, WHO databases, Google, and Google Scholar databases. The articles selected for this meta-analysis were published between 2010 and 2020. The last search date was 18 October 2021. The data was extracted in Microsoft Excel format and exported to STATA Version 14.0. A random effect meta-analysis model was used. Heterogeneity was evaluated by the I2 test. The Egger weighted regression test was used to assess publication bias. Results We retrieved 847 records from these databases. Of which records, 813 were excluded due to different reasons and 34 studies were included in the final analysis. The pooled prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting in HIV infected children was 46.7% (95% CI; 40.36–53.07, I2 = 98.7%, p < 0.01), 35.9% (95% CI; 30.79–41.02, I2 = 97.4% p < 0.01), and 23.0% (95% CI; 18.67–27.42, I2 = 96.9%, p < 0.01) respectively. The advanced WHO HIV/AIDS clinical staging (III&IV) [OR = 6.74 (95%: 1.747, 26.021), I2 = 94.7%] and household food insecurity were associated with stunting [OR = 5.92 (95% CI 3.9, 8.87), I2 = 55.7%]. Low family economic status [OR = 4.737 (95% CI: 2.605, 8.614), I2 = 31.2%] and increased feeding frequency [OR = 0.323 (95% CI: 0.172, 0.605), I2 = 69.8%] were significantly associated with under-weight. Anemia [OR = 2.860 (95% CI: 1.636, 5.000), I2 = 74.8%] and diarrhea in the previous month [OR = 4.117 (95% CI: 2.876, 5.894), I2 = 0.0%] were also associated with wasting among HIV infected children in sub-Saharan Africa. Conclusions The pooled prevalence of under-nutrition among HIV infected children was high. Nutritional assessment and interventions need great attention as a part of HIV care for HIV positive children. The implementation of policies and strategies established by national and international stakeholders in ART care centres should take a maximum emphasis on reducing under-nutrition among HIV infected children.

scholarly journals Alcohol Use and Antiretroviral Therapy Non-Adherence Among Adults Living with HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 1727-1742 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Velloza ◽  
Christopher G. Kemp ◽  
Frances M. Aunon ◽  
Megan K. Ramaiya ◽  
Emma Creegan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Antiretroviral Therapy ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Living With Hiv ◽  
Hiv Aids
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