Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41771592›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2026

Common mental health outcomes among children in conflict with the law in Africa: a systematic review protocol.

Mpho Maotoana, Khomotjo Phalane, Simon M Ndlovu, Mahlatse Rapau, Emmanuel Nii-Boye Quarshie, Tshepo A Ntho, Medwin D Sepadi, Kwaku Oppong Asante, Tholene Sodi, Mahlapahlapana J Themane

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2026. 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

10 authors.

Mpho MaotoanaDepartment of Psychology, University of Limpopo, Mankweng, South Africa mpho.maotoana@ul.ac.za.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7507-0634
Khomotjo PhalaneDepartment of Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Limpopo, Mankweng, South Africa.
Simon M NdlovuDepartment of Education Studies, University of Limpopo, Mankweng, South Africa.
Mahlatse RapauLibrary Services, University of Limpopo, Mankweng, South Africa.
Emmanuel Nii-Boye QuarshieSchool of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8720-2355
Tshepo A NthoNursing Science, University of Limpopo, Polokwane, South Africa.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7088-8357
Medwin D SepadiDepartment of Education Studies, University of Limpopo, Polokwane, South Africa.
Kwaku Oppong AsanteDepartment of Psychology, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
Tholene SodiPsychology, University of Limpopo, Sovenga, South Africa.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7592-5145
Mahlapahlapana J ThemaneDepartment of Education Studies, University of Limpopo, Mankweng, South Africa.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionCommon mental health outcomes among children in conflict with the law in correctional facilities in Africa are an under-researched area with significant public health implications. This review will synthesise available and accessible evidence on the prevalence and associated factors of common mental health outcomes among children in conflict with the law in Africa. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Comprehensive electronic searches will date from 01 January 2015 to 31 December 2025 and will be conducted in PubMed, Sabinet, Scopus, EBSCOhost, Web of Science and PsycINFO. Articles will be screened using defined inclusion and exclusion criteria and assessed for eligibility by three independent reviewers. Discrepancies will be reviewed by a ninth reviewer. The selection process of included articles will be reported by using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses will be used. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool will assess study quality, and data will be synthesised using meta-analysis or a narrative synthesis approach, depending on heterogeneity levels. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study will not require ethical approval from an institutional review board, as it does not entail the direct collection of data from children in conflict with the law, nor does it pose any risk to their privacy. Once finalised, the full review report will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. The key findings will also be shared at both local and international conferences, highlighting common mental health outcomes among children in conflict with the law. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD420251011484.

Indexed as

Mental DisordersMental HealthAfricaChildCorrectional FacilitiesHumansResearch DesignSystematic Reviews as TopicAfricachildren justicechildren offenderscorrectional facilitiesdepressionmental health

Identifiers

PMID41771592
PMCPMC12959027

What OpenQuestion holds

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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.