Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32917162›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2020

Prevalence of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder among Ebola survivors in northern Sierra Leone: a cross-sectional study.

Abdulai Jawo Bah, Peter Bai James, Nuhu Bah, Amara Bangali Sesay, Stephen Sevalie, Joseph Sam Kanu

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC public health, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 40 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
40citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
3.9field-weighted citation impact, top 4% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

40 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 72 citations in OpenAlex.

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  6. Ebola Virus Disease and Pediatric Mental Health: Long-Term Mediating Effects of Caregiver Mental Health.Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.

Abdulai Jawo BahFaculty of Basic Medical Sciences College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences University of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Peter Bai JamesFaculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, University of Sierra Leone, Freetown, Sierra Leone. jamepeb@yahoo.com.
Nuhu BahDirectorate of Drugs and Medical Supplies Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Amara Bangali SesayDirectorate of Drugs and Medical Supplies Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Stephen Sevalie34 Military Hospital Wilberforce, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Joseph Sam KanuDirectorate of Disease Prevention and Control, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Ministry of Health and Sanitation · SLQueen Margaret University · GBSierra Leone Urban Research Centre · SLUniversity of Sierra Leone · SL

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThere is limited data available on the long-term mental health impact of Ebola virus disease (EVD) on survivors despite the disease experience of survivors meeting the criteria of a traumatic event as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders version IV (DSM IV). This study aimed to assess the prevalence and predictive factors of anxiety, depression and posttraumatic stress disorder among EVD survivors, approximately 2 years after discharge from the Ebola treatment centre (ETC).

methodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study between May and August 2017 among 197 adults Ebola survivors in Bombali district, Northern Sierra Leone. We collected information about demographics, mental health status and possible predictive factors. The HAD scale was used to measure anxiety and depression. PTSD was measured using the PTSD-checklist (PCL). Chi-square test or Fisher exact two-tailed tests were used to test for associations and the multiple logistic regressions model to determine factors that were independently associated with the outcome variables.

resultsThe mean anxiety, depression and PTSD scores were (5.0 ± 3.9), (7.1 ± 3.8) and (39.5 ± 6.4) respectively. Based on cut-off scores, the prevalence of anxiety (HADs score ≥ 8), depression (HADs score ≥ 8) and PTSD (PCL ≥ 45) among Ebola survivors were (n = 49, 24.9%), (n = 93, 47.2%) and (n = 43, 21.8%) respectively. Older Ebola survivors (≥30 years) were more likely to show symptoms of depression (AOR = 8.5, 95% CI: 2.68-27.01, p = 0.001) and anxiety (AOR = 3.04; 95%CI: 1.2-7.7, p = 0.019) compared to younger ones (< 30 years). In addition, Ebola survivors who experienced a decreased level of exercise post-ETC discharge were more likely to show symptoms of depression (AOR = 2.63; 95%CI: 1.25-5.54, p = 0.011) and anxiety (AOR = 3.60; 95%CI: 1.33-9.72, p = 0.012) compared to those whose exercise remained the same post-ETC discharge.

conclusionOur findings show that anxiety, depression and PTSD are common among the Ebola survivors in Bombali district, Northern Sierra Leone, and that underscores the need to diagnose and manage mental health morbidities among Ebola survivors long after their recovery from Ebola virus disease. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) need to be explored as part of overall mental healthcare package interventions.

Indexed as

Hemorrhagic Fever, EbolaStress Disorders, Post-TraumaticAdultAnxietyCross-Sectional StudiesDepressionHumansPrevalenceSierra LeoneSurvivorsAnxietyDepressionEbolaEbola survivorPost-traumatic stress disorderSierra Leone

Identifiers

PMID32917162
PMCPMC7485189
OpenAlexW3085772467

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.