Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40408611›Full record

ArticlePloS one2025

"If I tell you my problems, how will you perceive me?": A qualitative study of mental health knowledge, barriers, and opportunities for care among Kenyan adolescents during COVID-19.

Vincent Nyongesa, Joseph Kathono, Shillah Mwavua, Darius Nyamai, Obadia Yator, Ian Kanyanya, Nabila Amin, Simon Njuguna, Jill Ahs, Brandon Kohrt and 5 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
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

15 authors.

Vincent NyongesaDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.
Joseph KathonoDepartment of Preventive and Promotive Health, Nairobi County Government, Nairobi, Kenya.
Shillah MwavuaDepartment of Preventive and Promotive Health, Nairobi County Government, Nairobi, Kenya.
Darius NyamaiNairobi County Government, Nairobi, Kenya.
Obadia YatorUniversity of Nairobi Infectious and Tropical Disease (UNITID), University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.
Ian KanyanyaDepartment of Mental Health, Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya.
Nabila AminMathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya.
Simon NjugunaMathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya.
Jill AhsDepartment of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Brandon KohrtDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Center for Global Mental Health Equity, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States of America.
Bruce ChorpitaUniversity of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America.
Beatrice MadegheUniversity of Nairobi Infectious and Tropical Disease (UNITID), University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.
Priscilla IdeleData and Analytics Branch United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), New York, New York, United States of America.
Liliana Carvajal VelezDepartment of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Manasi KumarInstitute for Excellence in Health Equity, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9773-8014

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionThe majority of the world's adolescents live in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, there is a dearth of knowledge about adolescents' perspectives on mental health and sources of distress there. Therefore, a qualitative study of adolescents' and caregivers' beliefs and experiences related to mental illness was conducted in Nairobi, Kenya. MATERIALS AND

methodsSix focus group discussions were conducted with 46 participants at two peri-urban settlements in Nairobi from November to December 2020. Using a two-step analytic process, we generated core themes, and the study team reviewed the transcripts and triangulated the themes.

resultsThemes include knowledge about mental health and illness, triggers of psychological disturbances, attitudes towards mental illness, practices adopted to strengthen mental health, barriers to strengthening mental health among young people, emerging needs around caregiver mental health and parenting, and community recommendations on interventions. Adolescents had limited knowledge of specific mental illnesses but articulated triggers, stresses, and challenges they face in daily life in an in-depth manner. Caregivers demonstrated a breadth of knowledge and understanding of adolescent mental health.

conclusionAdolescents and their caregivers face tremendous stresses in the Nairobi settlements. Mental health literacy is limited, but adolescents and caregivers are ready to embrace mental health services. Reducing stigma and access to youth-friendly services are crucial to expanding service engagement.

Indexed as

COVID-19Health Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeMental DisordersMental HealthAdolescentCaregiversFemaleFocus GroupsHumansKenyaMaleQualitative ResearchSARS-CoV-2

Identifiers

PMID40408611
PMCPMC12101854

What OpenQuestion holds

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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.