SynthesisEpidemiology and psychiatric sciences2024
Prevalence of mental disorders in adult populations from the Global South following exposure to natural hazards: a meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Epidemiology and psychiatric sciences, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Mental health of internally displaced persons: a meta-analysis.BMJ global health · 2026Pooled it
- The growing burden of mental health and the role of digital technologies in the Global South: policies, cultural contexts, and community-based transformations-a systematic review of gray literature evidence.Frontiers in public health · 2026Pooled it
- A meta-analysis on gender differences in prevalence estimates of mental disorders following exposure to natural hazards.European journal of psychotraumatology · 2025Pooled it
- Psychological impact of the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of PTSD, depression, and anxiety among Turkish adults.Frontiers in public health · 2025Pooled it
- Maternal mental health and child development before and after an extreme cyclone in Malawi.BMC global and public health · 2026Article
- Immune-metabolic mediation of depression risk: Causal evidence from antibody and metabolite GWAS.Translational psychiatry · 2026Article
- Causal evidence linking injury-associated DNA methylation to the risk of developing depression or post-traumatic stress disorder.Medicine · 2026Article
- Reflections on mental health research in post-disaster settings.PLOS global public health · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
aimsAlthough natural hazards (e.g., tropical cyclones, earthquakes) disproportionately affect developing countries, most research on their mental health impact has been conducted in high-income countries. We aimed to summarize prevalences of mental disorders in Global South populations (classified according to the United Nations Human Development Index) affected by natural hazards.
methodsTo identify eligible studies for this meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Web of Science up to February 13, 2024, for observational studies with a cross-sectional or longitudinal design that reported on at least 100 adult survivors of natural hazards in a Global South population and assessed mental disorders with a validated instrument at least 1 month after onset of the hazard. Main outcomes were the short- and long-term prevalence estimates of mental disorders. The project was registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42023396622).
resultsWe included 77 reports of 75 cross-sectional studies (six included a non-exposed control group) comprising 82,400 individuals. We found high prevalence estimates for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the general population (26.0% [95% CI 18.5-36.3];
conclusionsGlobal South populations exposed to natural hazards report a substantial burden of mental disease. These findings require further attention and action in terms of implementation of mental health policies and low-threshold interventions in the Global South in the aftermath of natural hazards. However, to accurately quantify the true extent of this public health challenge, we need more rigorous, well-designed epidemiological studies across diverse regions. This will enable informed decision making and resource allocation for those in need.
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