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Awini E, Agyepong IA, Owiredu D, Gyimah L, Ashinyo ME, Yevoo LL, Aye SGEV, Abbas S, Cronin de Chavez A, Kane S, Mirzoev T, Danso-Appiah A. Burden of mental health problems among pregnant and postpartum women in sub-Saharan Africa: systematic review and meta-analysis protocol. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e069545. [PMID: 37286328 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-069545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Pregnancy and postpartum-related mental health problems pose serious public health threat to the society, but worryingly, neglected in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This review will assess the burden and distribution of maternal mental health (MMH) problems in SSA, with the aim to inform the implementation of context sensitive interventions and policies. METHODS AND ANALYSIS All relevant databases, grey literature and non-database sources will be searched. PubMed, LILAC, CINAHL, SCOPUS and PsycINFO, Google Scholar, African Index Medicus, HINARI, African Journals Online and IMSEAR will be searched from inception to 31 May 2023, without language restriction. The reference lists of articles will be reviewed, and experts contacted for additional studies missed by our searches. Study selection, data extraction and risk of bias assessment will be done independently by at least two reviewers and any discrepancies will be resolved through discussion between the reviewers. Binary outcomes (prevalence and incidence) of MMH problems will be assessed using pooled proportions, OR or risk ratio and mean difference for continuous outcomes; all will be presented with their 95% CIs. Heterogeneity will be investigated graphically for overlapping CIs and statistically using the I2 statistic and where necessary subgroup analyses will be performed. Random-effects model meta-analysis will be conducted when heterogeneity is appreciable, otherwise fixed-effect model will be used. The overall level of evidence will be assessed using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Although no ethical clearance or exemption is needed for a systematic review, this review is part of a larger study on maternal mental health which has received ethical clearance from the Ethics Review Committee of the Ghana Health Service (GHS-ERC 012/03/20). Findings of this study will be disseminated through stakeholder forums, conferences and peer review publications. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER CRD42021269528.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Awini
- Research and Development Division, Dodowa Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, Dodowa, Ghana
| | - Irene Akua Agyepong
- Research and Development Division, Dodowa Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, Dodowa, Ghana
- Faculty of Public Health, Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, Accra, Ghana
| | - David Owiredu
- Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Leveana Gyimah
- Department of Psychiatry, Pantang Hospital, Accra, Ghana
- Faculty of Psychiatry, Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, Accra, Ghana
| | | | - Linda Lucy Yevoo
- Research and Development Division, Dodowa Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, Dodowa, Ghana
| | - Sorre Grace Emmanuelle Victoire Aye
- Research and Development Division, Dodowa Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, Dodowa, Ghana
- Faculty of Public Health, Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, Accra, Ghana
| | - Shazra Abbas
- Nossal Institute for Global Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Anna Cronin de Chavez
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Sumit Kane
- Nossal Institute for Global Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Tolib Mirzoev
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Anthony Danso-Appiah
- Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
- Centre for Evidence Synthesis and Policy, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
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The impact of maternal prenatal mental health disorders on stillbirth and infant mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Womens Ment Health 2021; 24:543-555. [PMID: 33386983 DOI: 10.1007/s00737-020-01099-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Evidence about the association between maternal mental health disorders and stillbirth and infant mortality is limited and conflicting. We aimed to examine whether maternal prenatal mental health disorders are associated with stillbirth and/or infant mortality. MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and Scopus were searched for studies examining the association of any maternal prenatal (occurring before or during pregnancy) mental health disorder(s) and stillbirth or infant mortality. A random-effects meta-analysis was used to calculate pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The between-study heterogeneity was quantified using the I2 statistic. Subgroup analyses were performed to identify the source of heterogeneity. Of 4487 records identified, 28 met our inclusion criteria with 27 contributing to the meta-analyses. Over 60% of studies examined stillbirth and 54% of them evaluated neonatal or infant mortality. Thirteen studies investigated the association between maternal depression and anxiety and stillbirth/infant mortality, pooled OR, 1.42 (95% CI, 1.16-1.73; I2, 76.7%). Another 13 studies evaluated the association between severe maternal mental illness and stillbirth/infant mortality, pooled OR, 1.47 (95% CI, 1.28-1.68; I2, 62.3%). We found similar results for the association of any maternal mental health disorders and stillbirth/infant mortality (OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.43-1.77) and in subgroup analyses according to types of fetal/infant mortality. We found no significant evidence of publication bias. Maternal prenatal mental health disorders appear to be associated with a moderate increase in the risk of stillbirth and infant mortality, although the mechanisms are unclear. Efforts to prevent and treat these disorders may reduce the scale of stillbirth/infant deaths.
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Harron K, Gilbert R, Fagg J, Guttmann A, van der Meulen J. Associations between pre-pregnancy psychosocial risk factors and infant outcomes: a population-based cohort study in England. Lancet Public Health 2021; 6:e97-e105. [PMID: 33516292 PMCID: PMC7848754 DOI: 10.1016/s2468-2667(20)30210-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Existing studies evaluating the association between maternal risk factors and specific infant outcomes such as birthweight, injury admissions, and mortality have mostly focused on single risk factors. We aimed to identify routinely recorded psychosocial characteristics of pregnant women most at risk of adverse infant outcomes to inform targeting of early intervention. METHODS We created a cohort using administrative hospital data (Hospital Episode Statistics) for all births to mothers aged 15-44 years in England, UK, who gave birth on or after April 1, 2010, and who were discharged before or on March 31, 2015. We used generalised linear models to evaluate associations between psychosocial risk factors recorded in hospital records in the 2 years before the 20th week of pregnancy (ie, teenage motherhood, deprivation, pre-pregnancy hospital admissions for mental health or behavioural conditions, and pre-pregnancy hospital admissions for adversity, including drug or alcohol abuse, violence, and self-harm) and infant outcomes (ie, birthweight, unplanned admission for injury, or death from any cause, within 12 months from postnatal discharge). FINDINGS Of 2 520 501 births initially assessed, 2 137 103 were eligible and were included in the birth outcome analysis. Among the eligible births, 93 279 (4·4%) were births to teenage mothers (age <20 years), 168 186 (7·9%) were births to previous teenage mothers, 51 312 (2·4%) were births to mothers who had a history of hospital admissions for mental health or behavioural conditions, 58 107 (2·7%) were births to mothers who had a history of hospital admissions for adversity, and 580 631 (27·2%) were births to mothers living in areas of high deprivation. 1 377 706 (64·5%) of births were to mothers with none of the above risk factors. Infants born to mothers with any of these risk factors had poorer outcomes than those born to mothers without these risk factors. Those born to mothers with a history of mental health or behavioural conditions were 124 g lighter (95% CI 114-134 g) than those born to mothers without these conditions. For teenage mothers compared with older mothers, 3·6% (95% CI 3·3-3·9%) more infants had an unplanned admission for injury, and there were 10·2 (95% CI 7·5-12·9) more deaths per 10 000 infants. INTERPRETATION Health-care services should respond proactively to pre-pregnancy psychosocial risk factors. Our study demonstrates a need for effective interventions before, during, and after pregnancy to reduce the downstream burden on health services and prevent long-term adverse effects for children. FUNDING Wellcome Trust.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie Harron
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK,Correspondence to: Dr Katie Harron, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Ruth Gilbert
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Jamie Fagg
- Imperial College NHS Foundation Trust, St Mary's Hospital, London, UK
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