Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40460138›Full record

ArticlePloS one2025

Cross-National variations in mental health: A cross-sectional study on depression, anxiety, and stress among university staff and students in Sub-Saharan African.

Oforbuike Onyebuchi Ike, Michael Agyemang Kwarteng, Grace Ogbonna, Isaura Brito Dos Santos, Osamudiamen McHillary Ogiemudia, Anayochukwu E Anyasodor, Ellen Konadu Antwi-Adjei, Okechi Ulumma Amaechi, Ejididke Gertrude Ebele, Ngozika Esther Ezinne and 11 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

21 authors.

Oforbuike Onyebuchi IkeDepartment of Optometry, Bayero University Kano, Nigeria.
Michael Agyemang KwartengOptometry Unit, Department of Clinical Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1072-315X
Grace OgbonnaDepartment of Optometry, Mzuzu University Malawi, Luwinga, Mzuzu.
Isaura Brito Dos SantosDepartment of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, Eduardo Mondlane University, Maputo, Mozambique.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8723-7606
Osamudiamen McHillary OgiemudiaDepartment of Optometry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin, and Department of Optometry, College of Medical and Health Sciences, Novena University, Kwale, Benin City, Delta State, Nigeria.
Anayochukwu E AnyasodorRural Health Research Institute, Charles Sturt University, Orange, New South Wales, Australia.
Ellen Konadu Antwi-AdjeiDepartment of Optometry and Visual Science, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3291-8492
Okechi Ulumma AmaechiDepartment of Optometry, Faculty of Health Sciences, Abia State University, Uturu, Okigwe, Abia State, Nigeria.
Ejididke Gertrude EbeleDepartment of Optometry, Madonna University, Elele, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Ngozika Esther EzinneDepartment of Clinical Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Optometry Unit, The University of the West Indies, St Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago.
Khathutshelo Percy MashigeDepartment of Optometry, African Vision Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
Antor NdepHealth Education & Health Promotion Unit, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3273-8195
Edith Daniel-NwosuDepartment of Optometry, Federal University of Technology Owerri, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
Bernadine Nsa EkpenyongDepartment of Public Health, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.
Tshubelela Sello Simon MagakweDiscipline of Optometry, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8724-9911
Kingsley E AghoSchool of Health Science, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia.
Ayomikun Nifemi DahunsiMillenium Eye Center, University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.
Oyelola A AdegboyeMenzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Northern Territory, Australia.
Kelechi C OgbuehiDepartment of Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Uchechukwu Levi OsuagwuDiscipline of Optometry, African Vision Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1727-6914
Center for eyecare and Public Health Intervention Initiative (CEPHII)

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeMental health disorders are global concerns, but their impact varies across regions. In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the influence of country-specific factors on mental health is under-researched. This study investigates the influence of country of origin on the prevalence and severity of mental health conditions among university students and staff across select SSA countries.

methodA cross-sectional, web-based survey using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) was conducted from 16 April to 18 November 2024. The survey was distributed online through multiple African social networks, reaching students and staff from different universities across Africa. Prevalence estimates for anxiety, depression, and stress were based on binomial distribution with Clopper-Pearson confidence intervals, while country-level differences were assessed using univariate odds ratios and multiple logistic regression.

resultsOf the 3221 participants, aged 25.3 ± 8.6 (mean±SD), the majority (1850, 57.3%) were females. Findings revealed that Nigerians reported the highest prevalence of severe and extremely severe mental health conditions, while Ghanaians recorded the lowest levels across all mental health categories. Multivariable analysis revealed that, compared to Ghanaians, respondents from Malawi had the strongest odds for mental health challenges followed by Mozambique and Nigeria. The adjusted odds ratios (AORs) for Malawi were 4.39 (95% CI: 3.28-5.89), 3.86 (95% CI: 2.81-5.29) and 4.51 (95% CI: 3.33-6.11) for depression, anxiety, and stress, respectively.

conclusionsThis study found significant differences in mental health outcomes between participants from Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, and Nigeria. Malawi had the greatest risk for depression, anxiety, stress, and combinations of those conditions while Ghana reported the lowest risks. The findings emphasize the importance of considering contextual factors, such as education levels, gender, and country of origin, in understanding mental health risks. Overall, these findings underscore the critical mental health burden in sub-Saharan Africa and the need for increased access to mental health resources and targeted interventions.

Indexed as

AnxietyDepressionMental HealthStress, PsychologicalStudentsAdolescentAdultAfrica South of the SaharaCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMalePrevalenceSurveys and QuestionnairesUniversitiesYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID40460138
PMCPMC12133007

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.