1
|
Basa M, De Vries J, McDonagh D, Comiskey C. The impact of COVID-19 on non-communicable disease patients in sub-Saharan African countries: A systematic review. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0293376. [PMID: 38905254 PMCID: PMC11192341 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND COVID-19 and its prevention measures have had a significant impact on patients with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by disrupting routine healthcare service and increasing risk factors. These challenges were expected to be more severe in sub-Saharan Africa due to the lack of physical infrastructure and inadequate resources. The quantity of studies conducted was limited, and there was a lack of published systematic reviews in the specified region. This systematic review aimed to assess the indirect impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdown measures on individuals with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in sub-Saharan African countries. METHOD This systematic review adheres to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines and is registered with PROSPERO (ID CRD42023387755). Extensive searches were conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL databases in December 2023, supplemented by a manual search of references, grey literature, and the WHO COVID-19 database. Inclusion criteria encompassed studies that reported on the impact of COVID-19 on NCD patients in sub-Saharan African countries, focusing on access to care, health outcomes, and factors related to NCDs. Critical appraisal of study quality was performed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) analytical cross-sectional studies critical appraisal tool. Data were extracted and synthesized, highlighting the main findings and relevant limitations. FINDINGS This review included 30 primary studies with a cumulative sample size of 25634 participants, conducted in seven sub-Saharan African countries. These studies demonstrated that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted regular NCD patient care provision, with regional variations. The studies also identified a reduction in patient health-seeking behavior and reduced medication adherence, leading to poor treatment outcome. Furthermore, the pandemic and related lockdowns have been implicated in the increased prevalence of substance use, decreased physical exercise, and increased mental health problems. CONCLUSION This systematic review identified the complex challenges faced by NCD patients in sub-Saharan Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also underlines the need to consider the indirect impact on vulnerable populations while developing pandemic prevention and control strategies for the future. The current NCD management strategies should prioritize the restoration of access to essential healthcare services while considering the multifaceted risks posed by decreased physical activity, poor dietary practices, and increased substance use. The main limitation of this review was the study design and setting. All of the studies included in this review employed a cross-sectional design, which may result in a low quality of evidence. This study identified research conducted in only seven countries among the 46 UN-classified sub-Saharan nations, which may impair the generalizability of the result.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Muluken Basa
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jan De Vries
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - David McDonagh
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Catherine Comiskey
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Monzon J, Barnoya J, Mus S, Davila G, Vidaña-Pérez D, Thrasher JF. Changes in substance use among adolescents before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Guatemala. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1331962. [PMID: 38487580 PMCID: PMC10937547 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1331962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on March 16th, schools had to be closed in Guatemala and went to online teaching. We sought to analyze the change in substance use among high school students in Guatemala associated with the lockdown. Methods Data from two surveys (2019, n=2096, and 2020, n=1606) of a student cohort in private high schools in Guatemala City was used. Logistic models for past 30-day cigarette, e-cigarette, marijuana, and alcohol (including binge drinking) were used, regressing these on survey wave, while adjusting for sex, scholastic performance, high school year of student, parental education, substance use, and household member tobacco use. Results Prevalence declined for smoking (10% to 3%, p<0.001), e-cigarette (31% to 14%, p<0.001), marijuana (4.3% to 1.9%, p<0.001), and alcohol use (47% to 38.5%, p<0.001), and binge drinking (24% to 13%, p<0.001). Adjusted models showed wave 2 associated with lower odds of using cigarettes (AOR=0.44, 95%CI=0.32-0.62), e-cigarettes (AOR=0.41, 95% CI=0.35-0.49, p<0.001), and binge drinking (AOR=0.73, 95%CI=0.59-0.89; p=0.002). Conclusion Among Guatemalan adolescents, COVID-19 restrictions were associated with a significant decrease in smoking, e-cigarette use, and binge drinking.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jose Monzon
- Health Sciences School, Rafael Landívar University, Guatemala City, Guatemala
- Research Department, Cardiovascular Surgery Unit of Guatemala (UNICAR), Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | - Joaquin Barnoya
- Research Department, Cardiovascular Surgery Unit of Guatemala (UNICAR), Guatemala City, Guatemala
- Research Department, Integra Cancer Institute, Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | - Sophia Mus
- Research Department, Cardiovascular Surgery Unit of Guatemala (UNICAR), Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | - Gustavo Davila
- Research Department, Cardiovascular Surgery Unit of Guatemala (UNICAR), Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | - Desirée Vidaña-Pérez
- Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - James F. Thrasher
- Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States
- Center for Population Health Research, National Institute of Public Health (Mexico), Cuernavaca, Mexico
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Stowe MJ, Gatonye R, Maharjan I, Kehinde S, Arya S, Valderrábano JH, Mcbride A, Scheibein F, Igonya EK, Fast D. The war on drugs is a war on us: young people who use drugs and the fight for harm reduction in the Global South. Harm Reduct J 2024; 21:43. [PMID: 38368391 PMCID: PMC10874574 DOI: 10.1186/s12954-023-00914-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2024] Open
Abstract
In the Global South, young people who use drugs (YPWUD) are exposed to multiple interconnected social and health harms, with many low- and middle-income countries enforcing racist, prohibitionist-based drug policies that generate physical and structural violence. While harm reduction coverage for YPWUD is suboptimal globally, in low- and middle-income countries youth-focused harm reduction programs are particularly lacking. Those that do exist are often powerfully shaped by global health funding regimes that restrict progressive approaches and reach. In this commentary we highlight the efforts of young people, activists, allies, and organisations across some Global South settings to enact programs such as those focused on peer-to-peer information sharing and advocacy, overdose monitoring and response, and drug checking. We draw on our experiential knowledge and expertise to identify and discuss key challenges, opportunities, and recommendations for youth harm reduction movements, programs and practices in low- to middle-income countries and beyond, focusing on the need for youth-driven interventions. We conclude this commentary with several calls to action to advance harm reduction for YPWUD within and across Global South settings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M-J Stowe
- The Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, Wallace Wurth Building, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
- South African Network of People Who Use Drugs (SANPUD), Cape Town, South Africa.
- Community Orientated Substance Use Program, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
| | - Rita Gatonye
- Women in Response to HIV/AIDS and Drug Addiction, Umuahia, Nigeria
| | | | - Seyi Kehinde
- Youth RISE Nigeria, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria
| | - Sidarth Arya
- State Drug Dependence Treatment Centre, Institute of Mental Health, Pt B.D.S University of Health Sciences, Rohtak, India
| | | | - Angela Mcbride
- South African Network of People Who Use Drugs (SANPUD), Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Florian Scheibein
- School of Health Sciences, South East Technological University, Waterford, Ireland
| | | | - Danya Fast
- University of British Columbia and British Columbia Centre On Substance Use, Vancouver, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Aber-Odonga H, Babirye JN, Engebretsen IMS, Nuwaha F. Prevalence of probable substance use disorders among children in Ugandan health facilities. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:314. [PMID: 38287328 PMCID: PMC10823678 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-17732-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Globally, there is a concerning surge in the prevalence of substance use among adolescents and children, creating a substantial public health problem. Despite the magnitude of this issue, accessing healthcare explicitly for substance use remains challenging, even though many substance users frequently visit healthcare institutions for other health-related issues. To address this gap, proactive screening for substance use disorders has emerged as a critical strategy for identifying and engaging patients at risk of substance use. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of probable alcohol and other substance use disorders, and associated factors, among children aged 6 to 17 years old attending health facilities in Mbale, Uganda. METHODS We conducted a health facility cross-sectional study, involving 854 children aged 6-17 years. The prevalence of probable alcohol and other substance use disorders was assessed using a validated Car, Relax, Alone, Forget, Friends, Trouble (CRAFFT) screening tool. Univariable and multivariable modified Poisson regression analyses were performed using STATA 15 software. RESULTS The overall prevalence of probable alcohol use disorders (AUD) and other substance use disorders (SUD) was 27.8% (95% CI 1.24-1.31) while that of probable AUD alone was 25.3% (95% CI 1.22-1.28). Peer substance use (APR = 1.24, 95% CI 1.10-1.32), sibling substance use (APR = 1.14, 95% CI 1.06-1.23), catholic caregiver religion (APR = 1.07 95% CI 1.01-1.13), caregiver income of more than $128 (APR = 0.90, 95% CI 0.82-0.98), having no parental reprimand for substance use (APR = 1.05, 95% CI 1.01-1.10) and having no knowledge of how to decline an offer to use substances (APR = 1.06, 95% CI 1.01-1.12) were found to be significantly associated with probable AUD/SUD. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest a high prevalence of probable AUD and SUD among children and adolescents visiting healthcare facilities for other conditions, along with a strong link between AUD and SUD prevalence and social factors. The implication for our healthcare system is to actively screen for and treat these conditions at primary healthcare facilities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Harriet Aber-Odonga
- Makerere University College of Health Sciences School of Public Health, Kampala, P.O Box 7072, Uganda.
| | - Juliet Ndimwibo Babirye
- Makerere University College of Health Sciences School of Public Health, Kampala, P.O Box 7072, Uganda
| | - Ingunn Marie S Engebretsen
- Centre for International Health, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Fred Nuwaha
- Makerere University College of Health Sciences School of Public Health, Kampala, P.O Box 7072, Uganda
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ekawati FM, Novitasari DA, Putri DAD, Fitriyani N, Ihyauddin Z. Rural Indonesian adolescents' smoking behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic: rapid survey and cotinine test of school-attend adolescents in Gunung Kidul, Yogyakarta. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2208. [PMID: 38278826 PMCID: PMC10817887 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-50123-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic is predicted to affect adolescent smoking behaviours. We aim to map profiles of adolescents' smoking behaviours in a rural district in Indonesia during the COVID-19 pandemic and validate their smoking exposures using cotinine tests. This study applied an online survey followed by cotinine tests for high-school students in Gunung Kidul, Yogyakarta. The participants were asked to complete the survey and participate in a cotinine test. Univariate and multivariate regressions were performed to seek potential determinants of the smoking status and diagnostic accuracy of the cotinine test. A total of 281 participants completed the survey, with 19.6% (n = 55) and 22.8% (n = 64) being ever-smokers and current smokers. The impacts of the pandemics on their smoking behaviours were found in the urgency and numbers of daily smoked cigarettes. Univariate regression analysis revealed age, gender, learning mode, and whether father/friend smokes correlate with the adolescents' smoking behaviours. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that the odds of planning to stop smoking were 0.01 (95% CI 0.001-0.22, p-value 0.003) for having positive attitudes towards cigarettes compared to none. Of the 65 cotinine tests, 19 tested positive, with the sensitivity and specificity of the cotinine test at 94.7% and 95.6%. The prevalence of adolescent smoking during the COVID-19 pandemic in Gunung Kidul is high, with the impacts of the pandemic on the urgency and number of cigarette smoke. There are opportunities to help them stop smoking by providing reliable quit-tobacco access and advocacy in collaboration with schools, parents, and health providers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fitriana Murriya Ekawati
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Gedung Radioputro Lt 1. Sayap Barat, Jalan Farmako Sekip Utara Sleman, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia.
| | - Dhiana Ayu Novitasari
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Gedung Radioputro Lt 1. Sayap Barat, Jalan Farmako Sekip Utara Sleman, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia
| | - Dwi Astuti Dharma Putri
- Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Center for Child Health-Paediatric Research Office, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Novi Fitriyani
- Kartika Clinic 0729, Bantul Regency, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Zulfikar Ihyauddin
- Paediatric Specialist Program, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Ramaiya A, Chandra-Mouli V, Both R, Gottert A, Guglielmi S, Beckwith S, Li M, Blum RW. Assessing the health, social, educational and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescents in low- and middle-income countries: a rapid review of the literature. Sex Reprod Health Matters 2023; 31:2187170. [PMID: 36987980 PMCID: PMC10062253 DOI: 10.1080/26410397.2023.2187170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 has caused profound health, social, educational and economic devastation around the world, especially among the lives of adolescents in low- and middle-income countries. This paper looks at a wide array of outcomes impacting adolescents' daily lives including health (mental, physical, sexual and reproductive health, vaccine perceptions and overlap between these topics), social relationships (family and peer), education and socio-economic disparities. Both scientific and grey literature between December 2019 and February 2022 were sought from PubMed, Google Scholar and organisations conducting research among adolescents, and coded. A total of 89 articles were included, 73% of which were peer-reviewed; 37% of the articles were from WHO's Western Pacific region; 62% of the articles were cross-sectional; 75% were quantitative. Three major topics emerged in more than half the articles: mental health (72%), education (61%) and socio-economic ramifications (55%). However, there were regional differences in topics and many of them overlapped. The results indicate that, where there has been research, almost all findings have been linked to worse mental health during the pandemic. Overall, remote education was seen as a negative experience. The ramification of school closures on future aspirations, in particular early school leaving, highlights the importance of prioritising education during future pandemics based on the situation within the country. Gender and other disparities have made marginalised adolescents vulnerable to the economic ramifications of containment measures. Given the risks identified, there is a pressing need to put adolescents at the centre of establishing priorities for their health agenda for post-pandemic recovery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Astha Ramaiya
- Assistant Scientist, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, 615 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Venkatraman Chandra-Mouli
- Scientist, Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health Research, UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Human Reproductive Programme, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Ann Gottert
- Associate II, Population Council, New York, NY, USA
| | - Silvia Guglielmi
- Qualitative researcher, Gender and Adolescence: Global Evidence, London, UK
| | - Sam Beckwith
- PhD candidate, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Mengmeng Li
- PhD candidate, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Robert W. Blum
- Professor, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Park S, Yon H, Ban CY, Shin H, Eum S, Lee SW, Shin YH, Shin JU, Koyanagi A, Jacob L, Smith L, Min C, Yeniova AÖ, Kim SY, Lee J, Hadalin V, Kwon R, Koo MJ, Fond G, Boyer L, Kim S, Hahn JW, Kim N, Lefkir E, Bondeville V, Rhee SY, Shin JI, Yon DK, Woo HG. National trends in alcohol and substance use among adolescents from 2005 to 2021: a Korean serial cross-sectional study of one million adolescents. World J Pediatr 2023; 19:1071-1081. [PMID: 36977821 PMCID: PMC10049906 DOI: 10.1007/s12519-023-00715-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although previous studies have provided data on early pandemic periods of alcohol and substance use in adolescents, more adequate studies are needed to predict the trends of alcohol and substance use during recent periods, including the mid-pandemic period. This study investigated the changes in alcohol and substance use, except tobacco use, throughout the pre-, early-, and mid-pandemic periods in adolescents using a nationwide serial cross-sectional survey from South Korea. METHODS Data on 1,109,776 Korean adolescents aged 13-18 years from 2005 to 2021 were obtained in a survey operated by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. We evaluated adolescents' alcohol and substance consumption prevalence and compared the slope of alcohol and substance prevalence before and during the COVID-19 pandemic to see the trend changes. We define the pre-COVID-19 period as consisting of four groups of consecutive years (2005-2008, 2009-2012, 2013-2015, and 2016-2019). The COVID-19 pandemic period is composed of 2020 (early-pandemic era) and 2021 (mid-pandemic era). RESULTS More than a million adolescents successfully met the inclusion criteria. The weighted prevalence of current alcohol use was 26.8% [95% confidence interval (CI) 26.4-27.1] from 2005 to 2008 and 10.5% (95% CI 10.1-11.0) in 2020 and 2021. The weighted prevalence of substance use was 1.1% (95% CI 1.1-1.2) from 2005 to 2008 and 0.7% (95% CI 0.6-0.7) between 2020 and 2021. From 2005 to 2021, the overall trend of use of both alcohol and drugs was found to decrease, but the decline has slowed since COVID-19 epidemic (current alcohol use: βdiff 0.167; 95% CI 0.150-0.184; substance use: βdiff 0.152; 95% CI 0.110-0.194). The changes in the slope of current alcohol and substance use showed a consistent slowdown with regard to sex, grade, residence area, and smoking status from 2005 to 2021. CONCLUSION The overall prevalence of alcohol consumption and substance use among over one million Korean adolescents from the early and mid-stage (2020-2021) of the COVID-19 pandemic showed a slower decline than expected given the increase during the prepandemic period (2005-2019).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sangil Park
- Department of Neurology, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, 23 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 02447, South Korea
| | - Hyunju Yon
- Department of Medicine, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Chae Yeon Ban
- Department of Medicine, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hyoin Shin
- Department of Medicine, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Seounghyun Eum
- Department of Medicine, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Seung Won Lee
- Department of Precision Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea
| | - Youn Ho Shin
- Department of Pediatrics, CHA Gangnam Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jung U Shin
- Department of Dermatology, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, South Korea
- Department of Pediatrics, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, 23 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 02447, South Korea
| | - Ai Koyanagi
- Research and Development Unit, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Deu, CIBERSAM, ISCIII, Barcelona, Spain
- Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Pg. Lluis Companys, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Louis Jacob
- Research and Development Unit, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Deu, CIBERSAM, ISCIII, Barcelona, Spain
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Montigny-le-Bretonneux, France
| | - Lee Smith
- Centre for Health, Performance and Wellbeing, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK
| | - Chanyang Min
- Center for Digital Health, Medical Science Research Institute, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Abdullah Özgür Yeniova
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University, Tokat, Turkey
| | - So Young Kim
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, South Korea
| | - Jinseok Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, South Korea
| | - Vlasta Hadalin
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Rosie Kwon
- Center for Digital Health, Medical Science Research Institute, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Min Ji Koo
- Center for Digital Health, Medical Science Research Institute, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- Department of Human Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Guillaume Fond
- AP-HM, Aix-Marseille University, CEReSS-Health Service Research and Quality of Life Center, Marseille, France
- FondaMental Foundation, Creteil, France
| | - Laurent Boyer
- AP-HM, Aix-Marseille University, CEReSS-Health Service Research and Quality of Life Center, Marseille, France
- FondaMental Foundation, Creteil, France
| | - Sunyoung Kim
- Department of Family Medicine, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jong Woo Hahn
- Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, South Korea
| | - Namwoo Kim
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Eléa Lefkir
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Rennes 1, Rennes, France
| | - Victoire Bondeville
- Department of Medicine, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sang Youl Rhee
- Center for Digital Health, Medical Science Research Institute, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jae Il Shin
- Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, South Korea.
| | - Dong Keon Yon
- Center for Digital Health, Medical Science Research Institute, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
- Department of Pediatrics, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, 23 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 02447, South Korea.
| | - Ho Geol Woo
- Department of Neurology, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, 23 Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 02447, South Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Saha I, Majumder J, Bagepally BS, Ray S, Saha A, Chakrabarti A. Burden of mental health disorders and synthesis of community-based mental health intervention measures among adolescents during COVID-19 pandemic in low middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Asian J Psychiatr 2023; 89:103790. [PMID: 37839154 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2023.103790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant lockdown could have negatively impacted adolescent mental health. The synthesised burden of mental health illness among adolescents during or after the pandemic is unknown in Low Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). The objective was to ascertain the pooled prevalence of mental health disorders among adolescents aged 10 - 19 years and to systematically review & conduct a descriptive synthesis of community-based mental health intervention measures in addressing adolescent mental health disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic in LMICs. METHODS The literature was searched in Embase, PubMed, and Scopus and selected the relevant studies. The data was extracted from the selected studies, and its quality was assessed using adapted Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scales. Meta-analysis was performed using random effects model to pool the prevalence of mental health disorders. Statistical heterogeneity was evaluated through Cochran's Q test & I2 statistic. RESULTS Thirty-five studies were selected out of 7955 identified studies. Most of the studies (n = 7, each) were from India and Iran. The majority of research works were community-based (n = 18), conducted in 2020 (23 articles), and participant interviews were conducted through online mode (n = 21). Varied instruments were used to measure the burden of mental health in different settings. Pooled prevalence (95% confidence intervals) of anxiety, depression and stress was found to be 43.69 (18.58-68.80)%, 47.02 (31.72-62.32)% and 39.97 (30.53-49.40)%, respectively, with high heterogeneity between the studies. No studies reported community-based mental health interventions. CONCLUSION There has been a higher prevalence of anxiety, depression, stress, and other mental health illnesses, among adolescents in LMICs during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is important to note that no existing literature directly addresses community-based interventions for these common mental health illnesses. It is imperative to prepare the health system for early identification and management of common mental health illness among the adolescent age group in the event of any future disaster.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Indranil Saha
- ICMR-Centre for Ageing & Mental Health, Salt Lake, Kolkata, India.
| | - Joydeep Majumder
- ICMR-Centre for Ageing & Mental Health, Salt Lake, Kolkata, India
| | | | - Sujoy Ray
- Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, UK
| | - Asim Saha
- ICMR-Centre for Ageing & Mental Health, Salt Lake, Kolkata, India
| | - Amit Chakrabarti
- ICMR-Centre for Ageing & Mental Health, Salt Lake, Kolkata, India
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Bhattarai D, Upadhyaya S, Banstola H, Pant SB. Alcohol Withdrawal Presenting with Cut Throat Injury during COVID-19 Lockdown: Case Reports from Nepal. Case Rep Psychiatry 2023; 2023:5514321. [PMID: 37928320 PMCID: PMC10624550 DOI: 10.1155/2023/5514321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The relationship between alcohol dependence and suicidal tendency is well recognized. Self-harm by cut throat is an uncommon but is potentially life-threatening when attempted. We present a description and discussion of a series of three cases of alcohol dependence syndrome who presented with self-inflicted cut throat wounds during the lockdown period from 24th March to 7th July 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic at the largest tertiary care hospital in Nepal. Case description. During the three and a half months of COVID-19 lockdown, we had three cases of alcohol dependence syndrome presenting to emergency services with a self-inflicted cut throat injury. Two cases were diagnosed as having alcohol withdrawal delirium and one case as alcohol-induced psychotic disorder (alcoholic hallucinosis) as per the international classification of mental and behavioral disorders diagnostic criteria for research. All three cases were alcohol dependent for more than a decade, but with no prior self-harm attempts. Necessary surgical interventions were done by the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, and in liaison with the Department of Psychiatry, appropriate psychiatric management was done. All three cases had uneventful outcomes in regard to wound care and mental disorder. Conclusion Suicidal precautions should be taken in alcohol dependence during phases of consumption and abstinence. Screening for alcohol dependence and withdrawal should be a standard process in all self-harm cases that present to the emergency department during a crisis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dipesh Bhattarai
- Department of Psychiatry, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Shreeram Upadhyaya
- Department of Psychiatry, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Hemanta Banstola
- Department of General Practice and Emergency Medicine, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Sagun Ballav Pant
- Department of Psychiatry, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Chen T, Wang L, Cheung YTD, Wang MP, Lam TH, Ho SY. Risk perceptions and changes in tobacco use in relation to Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic: A qualitative study on adolescent tobacco users in Hong Kong. Tob Induc Dis 2023; 21:92. [PMID: 37456609 PMCID: PMC10347963 DOI: 10.18332/tid/167479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Tobacco use is associated with an increased risk of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, severe COVID-19 outcomes requiring intensive care, and mortality. We investigated the perceived risk of and changes in cigarette, e-cigarette (EC) and heated tobacco product (HTP) use in relation to COVID-19 in Hong Kong adolescent tobacco users. METHODS We conducted semi-structured telephone interviews from January to April 2021 and in February 2022 on 40 adolescents (65% boys, Secondary school grades 2-6) who participated in our previous smoking surveys and were using cigarettes, ECs or HTPs before the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2020. RESULTS Adolescents generally perceived higher risks of contracting and having more severe COVID-19 from using cigarettes than ECs/HTPs, but they had limited knowledge of COVID-19 risks from EC/HTP use, particularly. Both increased and reduced consumption were found in tobacco, with EC use being the less affected product. Changes also included switching to ECs for convenience and lower cost and shifting from smoking cigarettes outside to mainly at home or in hidden areas. COVID-related policies, fear of infection, non-COVID-related health concerns, less social opportunities and pocket money, and limited access to tobacco products were barriers to tobacco use. In contrast, greater freedom at home versus school and negative emotions due to social distancing were facilitators. Family/peer influence had mixed impacts. CONCLUSIONS Adolescent tobacco users perceived lower COVID risks associated with HTPs and ECs than cigarettes, and various changes in tobacco use were found amid the pandemic in Hong Kong. COVID-19 and related social changes may both facilitate or deter adolescent tobacco use.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tianqi Chen
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lijun Wang
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yee Tak Derek Cheung
- School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China
| | - Man Ping Wang
- School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China
| | - Tai Hing Lam
- School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China
| | - Sai Yin Ho
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Nagata JM, Smith N, Zamora G, Sajjad OM, Ganson KT, Testa A, Jackson DB. Problematic social media use and alcohol expectancies in early adolescents. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:430. [PMID: 36879232 PMCID: PMC9987130 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-15298-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alcohol expectancies are beliefs regarding positive (e.g., tension reduction) or negative (e.g., loss of motor coordination) effects of alcohol. Based on Social Learning Theory, social media can influence alcohol expectancies in adolescents. In particular, problematic social media use - which can reflect elements of addiction, including mood modification, tolerance, withdrawal, conflict, and relapse - could be linked to alcohol expectancies. We aimed to determine the associations between problematic social media use and alcohol expectancies in a national (U.S.) cohort of 10-14-year-old early adolescents. METHODS We analyzed cross-sectional data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study (N = 9,008) at the Year 2 assessment (2018-2020). Unadjusted and adjusted linear regression analyses were conducted to examine the associations between problematic social media use and alcohol expectancies (positive and negative), adjusting for race/ethnicity, sex, household income, parent education, sexual orientation, parental marital status, and study site. Furthermore, we computed marginal predicted probabilities to aid in interpreting findings. RESULTS The sample was 48.7% female and racially and ethnically diverse (43.0% non-White), with a mean age of 12.02 ± 0.66 years old. In models adjusted for confounders including both time spent on social media and problematic social media use, time spent on social media was not associated with positive or negative alcohol expectancies, but higher problematic social media use score was associated with higher positive (B = 0.045, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.020-0.069) and negative (B = 0.072, 95% CI 0.043-0.101) alcohol expectancies scores. CONCLUSION Problematic social media use was associated with both positive and negative alcohol expectancies in a demographically diverse national sample of early adolescents in the U.S. Given the small effect sizes of the current study, future studies should further examine these relationships prospectively, as well as the mechanisms linking problematic social media use to alcohol expectancies and alcohol consumption. Because alcohol expectancies are modifiable and linked with alcohol initiation, they could be a target for future prevention efforts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jason M Nagata
- Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, 550 16th Street, 4th Floor, Box 0503, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA.
| | - Natalia Smith
- Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, 550 16th Street, 4th Floor, Box 0503, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Gabriel Zamora
- Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, 550 16th Street, 4th Floor, Box 0503, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Omar M Sajjad
- Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, 1 Rope Ferry Rd, Hanover, NH, 03755, USA
| | - Kyle T Ganson
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, 246 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON, M5S 1V4, Canada
| | - Alexander Testa
- Department of Management, Policy and Community Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 7000 Fannin St, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Dylan B Jackson
- Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, 615 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Marchand K, Liu G, Mallia E, Ow N, Glowacki K, Hastings KG, Mathias S, Sutherland JM, Barbic S. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on alcohol or drug use symptoms and service need among youth: a cross-sectional sample from British Columbia, Canada. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy 2022; 17:82. [PMID: 36550587 PMCID: PMC9774070 DOI: 10.1186/s13011-022-00508-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Concerns about youth alcohol and drug use have risen since the declaration of the global COVID-19 pandemic due to the pandemic's impact on known risk and protective factors for substance use. However, the pandemic's immediate and long-term impact on youths' substance use patterns has been less clear. Thus, this study sought to determine how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted alcohol or drug use and its risk and protective factors among youth accessing integrated youth services. METHODS We conducted a repeated cross-sectional study of patient-reported outcomes data collected between May 2018 and February 2022 among youth (n = 6022) ages 10-24 accessing a provincial network of integrated youth services in Canada. The main exposure of interest was the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020 - February 2022) compared with a pre-pandemic period (May 2018 - February 2020). As measured by the Global Appraisal of Individual Needs - Short Screener, outcomes included the average number of past month alcohol or drug use symptoms and past month likelihood of service need for alcohol/drug use (moderate/high vs. low need). Interrupted time series (ITS) examined change in average monthly alcohol/drug use symptoms between the pre- and pandemic periods. Stratified multivariable logistic regression investigated how the pandemic modified the effects of established risk/protective factors on likelihood of alcohol/drug use service need. RESULTS Fifty-percent of youth met the criteria for moderate/high likelihood of alcohol/drug use service need, with the odds being 2.39 times (95% confidence interval = 2.04, 2.80) greater during the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period. Results from the ITS indicated significant immediate effects of the pandemic on monthly substance use symptoms (p = 0.01). Significant risk/protective factors for service need included exposure to violence, engagement in meaningful activities, and self-rated physical and mental health; and the direction of their effects remained consistent across pandemic and pre-pandemic periods. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated that the COVID-19 pandemic corresponded with increased alcohol or drug use among youth accessing integrated services. This signals an urgent need for increased clinical capacity in existing youth services and policies that can respond to risk/protective factors for substance use earlier.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten Marchand
- Foundry, 915-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9 Canada ,grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 317-2194 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3 Canada ,grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of British Columbia, 317-2194 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3 Canada ,grid.498725.5Centre for Health Evaluation & Outcome Sciences, 588-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6 Canada
| | - Guiping Liu
- grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830Centre for Health Services and Policy Research, 201- 2206 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3 Canada
| | - Emilie Mallia
- Foundry, 915-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9 Canada
| | - Nikki Ow
- Foundry, 915-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9 Canada ,grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 317-2194 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3 Canada ,grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of British Columbia, 317-2194 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3 Canada ,grid.498725.5Centre for Health Evaluation & Outcome Sciences, 588-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6 Canada
| | - Krista Glowacki
- Foundry, 915-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9 Canada ,grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 317-2194 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3 Canada ,grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of British Columbia, 317-2194 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3 Canada ,grid.498725.5Centre for Health Evaluation & Outcome Sciences, 588-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6 Canada
| | - Katherine G. Hastings
- Foundry, 915-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9 Canada ,grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 317-2194 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3 Canada ,grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3 Canada
| | - Steve Mathias
- Foundry, 915-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9 Canada ,grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 317-2194 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3 Canada ,grid.498725.5Centre for Health Evaluation & Outcome Sciences, 588-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6 Canada ,grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, 2255 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 2A1 Canada
| | - Jason M. Sutherland
- grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 317-2194 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3 Canada ,grid.498725.5Centre for Health Evaluation & Outcome Sciences, 588-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6 Canada ,grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830Centre for Health Services and Policy Research, 201- 2206 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3 Canada ,grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3 Canada
| | - Skye Barbic
- Foundry, 915-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9 Canada ,grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 317-2194 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3 Canada ,grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of British Columbia, 317-2194 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3 Canada ,grid.498725.5Centre for Health Evaluation & Outcome Sciences, 588-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6 Canada
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and family situation of clinically referred children and adolescents in Switzerland: results of a survey among mental health care professionals after 1 year of COVID-19. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2022; 129:675-688. [PMID: 35652976 PMCID: PMC9160518 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-022-02512-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental well-being of clinically referred children and adolescents and on their families from the perspective of mental health care professionals in Switzerland during the first year of the pandemic. Psychiatrists and psychologists for children and adolescents participated in an anonymous survey conducted online in April/May 2021. The survey was completed by 454 mental health care professionals, most of them working in outpatient clinics for child and adolescent psychiatry or in independent practices. Most participants indicated an important increase of referrals for depression (86.8% of respondents), anxiety disorders (81.5%), crisis interventions (76.2%), psychosomatic disorders (66.1%), suicidality (63.8%), and behavioral addictions, e.g., excessive gaming (64.6%). In contrast, referrals or treatment demands for disorders such as autism spectrum disorder or psychosis showed no substantial change or a slight decrease, respectively. According to 69% of respondents, patients experienced the highest psychological burden in January/February/March 2021. Family problems very frequently reported by mental health professionals were parents' worries about loneliness/isolation of the child (49%), child's education and academic future (33%), increased media use due to missing options of recreational activities (37.6%), as well as multiple stresses of mothers (36.3%). To conclude, the pandemic has substantially changed the pattern of disorders and the number of clinical referrals of children and adolescents with mental health problems, which has serious consequences for the treatment supply in Switzerland.
Collapse
|
14
|
Kaggwa MM, Abaatyo J, Alol E, Muwanguzi M, Najjuka SM, Favina A, Rukundo GZ, Ashaba S, Mamun MA. Substance use disorder among adolescents before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda: Retrospective findings from a psychiatric ward registry. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0269044. [PMID: 35617261 PMCID: PMC9135190 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
It has been reported that the COVID-19 pandemic has predisposed adolescents to risky behaviors such as substance use and subsequent substance use disorder (SUD). However, it is unknown how the pandemic has changed the prevalence of SUD among adolescents in Uganda. We aimed to determine the prevalence of SUD and associated factors among adolescents in southwestern Uganda. Retrospectively, psychiatry ward records from November 2018 to July 2021 were collected from the largest tertiary hospital in southwestern Uganda. A total of 441 adolescent records were included in the analysis, with a mean age was 17±1.88 years, and the majority were males (50.34%). The overall prevalence of SUD was 7.26% (5.90% and 9.80% before and during the pandemic). Despite a little rise in SUD (3.9% increment) during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was no statistical difference compared to before the pandemic. The likelihood of being diagnosed with SUD was more among older adolescents at any period. In addition, having a diagnosis of bipolar mood disorder reduced the likelihood of SUD during the pandemic. This study indicated no statistical change in the diagnosis of SUD among adolescents before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. As older-male adolescents (17 to 19 years) were at higher risk of SUD, there is a need for early intervention for this group.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mark Mohan Kaggwa
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
- African Centre for Suicide Prevention and Research, Mbarara, Uganda
- * E-mail: (MMK); (JA)
| | - Joan Abaatyo
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
- * E-mail: (MMK); (JA)
| | - Emmanuel Alol
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Moses Muwanguzi
- Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
| | | | - Alain Favina
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Godfrey Zari Rukundo
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
- African Centre for Suicide Prevention and Research, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Scholastic Ashaba
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Mohammed A. Mamun
- CHINTA Research Bangladesh, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Department of Public Health, University of South Asia, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Department of Public Health, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Department of Public Health and Informatics, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Thielmann B, Böckelmann I, Schumann H. [Drinking behavior at the beginning and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: results of a literature review]. Notf Rett Med 2022; 26:1-7. [PMID: 35506007 PMCID: PMC9051819 DOI: 10.1007/s10049-022-01031-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Background and objective It is well known that alcohol consumption and abuse, as well as alcohol-induced problems, increase during difficult economic times. Previous studies showed increased alcohol consumption in the 2003 SARS outbreak in China. The review examines global changes in alcohol consumption under current SARS-CoV‑2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) pandemic. Materials and methods The databases PubMed, Ovid, Cochrane Library, Scopus, PsycINFO, and Web of Science with a cut-off date of 11 January 2022 were used. An initial hit count of 791 publications was found. After reading the title and abstract, 62 texts were still eligible. After reviewing the full text, 40 studies were included in this review. Results Study results were available from North and South America, Europe, Asia and Oceania. Increases as well as reductions in alcohol consumption were shown. Studies examining multiple waves of the pandemic found that alcohol consumption increased with duration of the pandemic. Binge drinking played a large role in this. There were very large regional differences in the increase in alcohol consumption: from about 10% of respondents to > 45%. In most studies, alcohol consumption was about the same for 40-50% of respondents and decreased for 30-40%. Conclusions Further study follow-ups under the continuing pandemic are relevant. Since the populations studied were predominantly of working age, occupational prevention measures of elevated stress levels for some of the respondents with increased alcohol consumption seem reasonable.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice Thielmann
- Bereich Arbeitsmedizin, Medizinische Fakultät, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120 Magdeburg, Deutschland
| | - Irina Böckelmann
- Bereich Arbeitsmedizin, Medizinische Fakultät, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120 Magdeburg, Deutschland
| | - Heiko Schumann
- Bereich Arbeitsmedizin, Medizinische Fakultät, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120 Magdeburg, Deutschland
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To review the literature on the trends in substance use among youth during the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic. RECENT FINDINGS The pandemic has given rise to concerns about the mental health and social well-being of youth, including its potential to increase or exacerbate substance use behaviors. This systematic review identified and included 49 studies of use across alcohol, cannabis, tobacco, e-cigarettes/vaping, and other drugs, and unspecified substances. The majority of studies across all categories of youth substance use reported reductions in prevalence, except in the case of other drugs and unspecified drug and substance use, which included three studies that reported an increase in use and three studies that reported decrease in use. Overall, the results of this review suggest that the prevalence of youth substance use has largely declined during the pandemic. Youth substance use in the post-pandemic years will require monitoring and continued surveillance.
Collapse
|