TY - JOUR
T1 - Prevalence of Anxiety and Depression Among the General Population in Africa During the COVID-19 Pandemic
T2 - A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
AU - Bello, Umar Muhammad
AU - Kannan, Priya
AU - Chutiyami, Muhammad
AU - Salihu, Dauda
AU - Cheong, Allen Ming Yan
AU - Miller, Tiev B.
AU - Pun, Joe Wing
AU - Ali, Mohammed Usman
AU - Bello, Isma'il M.
AU - Winser, Stanley John
N1 - Funding Information:
The work of UB and AC was supported by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and InnoHK.
Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2022 Bello, Kannan, Chutiyami, Salihu, Cheong, Miller, Pun, Muhammad, Mahmud, Jalo, Ali, Kolo, Sulaiman, Lawan, Bello, Gambo and Winser.
PY - 2022/5/17
Y1 - 2022/5/17
N2 - Background: Medical and socio-economic uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic have had a substantial impact on mental health. This study aimed to systematically review the existing literature reporting the prevalence of anxiety and depression among the general populace in Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic and examine associated risk factors. Methods: A systematic search of the following databases African Journal Online, CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted from database inception until 30th September 2021. Studies reporting the prevalence of anxiety and/or depression among the general populace in African settings were considered for inclusion. The methodological quality of included studies was assessed using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Meta-analyses on prevalence rates were conducted using Comprehensive Meta-analysis software. Results: Seventy-eight primary studies (62,380 participants) were identified from 2,325 studies via electronic and manual searches. Pooled prevalence rates for anxiety (47%, 95% CI: 40–54%, I
2 = 99.19%) and depression (48%, 95% CI: 39–57%, I
2 = 99.45%) were reported across Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sex (female) and history of existing medical/chronic conditions were identified as major risk factors for anxiety and depression. Conclusions: The evidence put forth in this synthesis demonstrates the substantial impact of the pandemic on the pervasiveness of these psychological symptoms among the general population. Governments and stakeholders across continental Africa should therefore prioritize the allocation of available resources to institute educational programs and other intervention strategies for preventing and ameliorating universal distress and promoting psychological wellbeing. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021228023, PROSPERO CRD42021228023.
AB - Background: Medical and socio-economic uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic have had a substantial impact on mental health. This study aimed to systematically review the existing literature reporting the prevalence of anxiety and depression among the general populace in Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic and examine associated risk factors. Methods: A systematic search of the following databases African Journal Online, CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted from database inception until 30th September 2021. Studies reporting the prevalence of anxiety and/or depression among the general populace in African settings were considered for inclusion. The methodological quality of included studies was assessed using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Meta-analyses on prevalence rates were conducted using Comprehensive Meta-analysis software. Results: Seventy-eight primary studies (62,380 participants) were identified from 2,325 studies via electronic and manual searches. Pooled prevalence rates for anxiety (47%, 95% CI: 40–54%, I
2 = 99.19%) and depression (48%, 95% CI: 39–57%, I
2 = 99.45%) were reported across Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sex (female) and history of existing medical/chronic conditions were identified as major risk factors for anxiety and depression. Conclusions: The evidence put forth in this synthesis demonstrates the substantial impact of the pandemic on the pervasiveness of these psychological symptoms among the general population. Governments and stakeholders across continental Africa should therefore prioritize the allocation of available resources to institute educational programs and other intervention strategies for preventing and ameliorating universal distress and promoting psychological wellbeing. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021228023, PROSPERO CRD42021228023.
KW - Africa
KW - COVID-19
KW - anxiety
KW - depression
KW - pandemics
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85131283198&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/fpubh.2022.814981
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2022.814981
M3 - Review article
SN - 2296-2565
VL - 10
JO - Frontiers in Public Health
JF - Frontiers in Public Health
M1 - 814981
ER -
