National and regional prevalence of PTSD in sub-Saharan Africa

National and regional prevalence of PTSD in sub-Saharan Africa

Full title: National and regional prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Authors: Lauren C. Ng, Anne Stevenson, Sreeja S. Kalapurakkel, Charlotte Hanlon, Soraya Seedat, Boniface Harerimana, Bonginkosi Chiliza, Karestan C. Koenen


Abstract

    Background

    People living in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are disproportionately exposed to trauma and may be at increased risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, a dearth of population-level representative data from SSA is a barrier to assessing PTSD. This manuscript sought to calculate pooled PTSD prevalence estimates from nationally and regionally representative surveys in SSA.

    Methods and findings

    The search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, and PTSDpubs and was last run between October 18, 2019, and November 11, 2019. We included studies that were published in peer-reviewed journals; used probabilistic sampling methods and systematic PTSD assessments; and included ≥ 450 participants who were current residents of an SSA country, at least 50% of whom were aged between 15 and 65 years. The primary outcomes were point prevalence estimates of PTSD across all studies, and then within subgroups. The protocol was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) (registration number CRD42016029441). Out of 2,825 unique articles reviewed, 25 studies including a total of 58,887 eligible participants (54% female) in 10 out of the 48 countries in SSA were identified. Most studies enrolled any adult aged 18 years or older. However, some studies only enrolled specific age brackets or persons as young as 15 years old. Six studies were national surveys, and 19 were regional.

    There were 4 key findings in the meta-analysis: (1) the overall pooled prevalence of probable PTSD was 22% (95% CI 13%–32%), while the current prevalence—defined as 1 week to 1 month—was 25% (95% CI 16%–36%); (2) prevalence estimates were highly variable, ranging from 0% (95% CI 0%–0%) to 74% (95% CI 72%–76%); (3) conflict-unexposed regions had a pooled prevalence of probable PTSD of 8% (95% CI 3%–15%), while conflict-exposed regions had a pooled prevalence of probable PTSD of 30% (95% CI 21%–40%; p < 0.001); and (4) there was no significant difference in the pooled prevalence of PTSD for men and women. The primary limitations of our methodology are our exclusion of the following study types: those published in languages other than English, French, and Portuguese; smaller studies; those that focused on key populations; those that reported only on continuous measures of PTSD symptoms; and unpublished or non–peer-reviewed studies.

    Conclusions

    In this study, PTSD symptoms consistent with a probable diagnosis were found to be common in SSA, especially in regions exposed to armed conflict. However, these studies only represent data from 10 of the 48 SSA countries, and only 6 studies provided national-level data. Given the enormous heterogeneity expected across the continent, and also within countries and regions, this review cannot speak to rates of PTSD in any regions not included in this review. Thus, substantial gaps in our knowledge of PTSD prevalence in SSA remain. More research on population-level prevalence is needed to determine the burden of trauma symptoms and PTSD in SSA and to identify acceptable and feasible approaches to address this burden given limited mental healthcare resources.

    Author summary

    Why was this study done?

    Repeated and prolonged exposure to violence, armed conflict, and mass-casualty events, combined with a lack of access to mental health treatment, may result in a substantial effect on the population burden of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

    While many studies of PTSD have been conducted in SSA, most of these studies derived their estimates from nonrepresentative samples or specific populations.
    Population-representative epidemiologic data are critical to understand the burden of PTSD in SSA and develop national and regional policies to address that burden.

    What did the researchers do and find?

    We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of PTSD from representative national and regional studies in SSA.
    Pooled prevalence estimates were calculated across all studies, and then within subgroups including by sex, assessment time frame (i.e., 1 week, 1 month, 1 year), use of a screening or diagnostic measure, and whether populations were affected or not affected by mass-casualty war or armed conflict.
    We identified 25 unique studies (N = 58,887) across 10 of the 48 SSA countries.
    The pooled prevalence of probable PTSD across all studies was 22% (95% CI 13%–32%).
    The pooled prevalence of probable PTSD in participants from war-exposed regions was 30% (95% CI 20%–40%), while the estimate from war-unexposed regions was 8% (95% CI 3%–15%; p = 0.01).

    What do these findings mean?

    • These data suggest that PTSD symptoms and probable PTSD are common in SSA.
    • However, information was only found on 10 of the 48 SSA countries, and only 6 studies provided national-level data.
    • Only one study used a measure of PTSD symptoms whose reliability and validity had been assessed previously in the population of interest.
    • Our results suggest both that PTSD is a major public health problem in SSA and that large gaps in our knowledge of this problem remain.

    Details

    Type
    Research summaries and systematic reviews
    Approach(es)
    Detection and diagnosis
    Human rights
    Disorder(s)
    Depression/anxiety/stress-related disorders
    Region(s)
    Africa