The impact of COVID-19 pandemic and its associated precautionary measures on the mental health outcomes of children and adolescents in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Year: 2025
Type: review
Study designs: Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis
Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic and its precautionary measures have disrupted lives worldwide, with insidious effects on the mental health of children and adolescents. Recognizing these impacts, this study aimed to estimate the prevalence and explore mental health outcomes among children and adolescents in Africa. To capture the nuanced impact of COVID-19 and its associated precautionary measures on children and adolescents’ mental health, a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted using the PRISMA-2020 guidelines (Page et al. 2021) for data collection and quality appraisal. Nine scientific databases and grey literature sources were searched to identify empirical studies meeting the inclusion criteria. Ultimately, 27 studies from Africa were included, encompassing a total sample of 31735 participants, split into age groups of children, 2-10 and adolescents, 11-19 years. Meta-analytic calculations were performed alongside the risk of bias assessments (RoBANS-2) tool to synthesize rigorous evidence from these studies. This meta-analysis revealed high prevalence rates of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and psychological distress among African children and adolescents, with female adolescents showing particularly high rates of depression and anxiety compared to males. Substance use, suicidal ideation, and PTSD presented lower prevalence rates, underscoring the limited representation of these outcomes in the literature reviewed. This study’s findings shed light on the mental health difficulties children and adolescents have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic and highlight areas for targeted mental health interventions in response to future pandemics.
Author: Booi, Nikho
Language: English
Topic: COVID-19 and Mental Health
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7220789428