The Impact of Extreme Weather Events on Mental Health in Africa: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review

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dc.contributor.advisorDalvie, Mohamed Aqiel
dc.contributor.advisorAbrams, Amber
dc.contributor.authorDeglon, Michaele
dc.date.accessioned2023-03-03T12:27:25Z
dc.date.available2023-03-03T12:27:25Z
dc.date.issued2022
dc.date.updated2023-02-20T12:33:08Z
dc.description.abstractIntroduction: The psychosocial impacts of extreme weather events are contributing to the burden of mental illness, exacerbated by pre-existing vulnerabilities. Despite an emerging global interest in this association, Africa remains poorly represented in the literature. Methods: A mixed-methods systematic review of peer-reviewed studies was conducted to determine the adverse mental health outcomes associated with extreme weather events in Africa (2008-2021). The review was conducted in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Results: A total of 12 204 peer-reviewed articles were identified of which 12 were retained for analysis. These studies were all conducted in 8 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Adverse mental health outcomes were identified resulting from flood (n=4), drought (n=4), extreme heat (n=1), bushfire (n=1), and multiple events (n=2). Findings included pathological outcomes with predictable symptomatology including mood disorders; trauma- and stressor-related disorders; and suicide. Additionally, conditions indicating psychological distress which were below the pathological threshold including emotion regulation difficulties, disturbed sleep, alcohol use, stress, and anxiety. The quantitative evidence for the association between extreme weather events and mental health was limited primarily by a lack of longitudinal data, exposure gradient, and comparison to an unaffected group, as well as a failure to provide an objective exposure measure. The qualitative evidence for this association was complimentary but without sufficient clinical measurement these outcomes cannot be verified as psychological morbidities. In addition, this review provided insight into the mental health of vulnerable communities affected by extreme weather events including those living in poverty, farmers, pastoralists, women, and children. Conclusion: This review provided some preliminary evidence for the association between extreme weather events and adverse mental health outcomes for populations in Africa. The review also provides insight to vulnerable populations affected by extreme weather events. Future research with stronger designs and methodologies are recommended.
dc.identifier.apacitationDeglon, M. (2022). <i>The Impact of Extreme Weather Events on Mental Health in Africa: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review</i>. (). ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Public Health and Family Medicine. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/37214en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationDeglon, Michaele. <i>"The Impact of Extreme Weather Events on Mental Health in Africa: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review."</i> ., ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Public Health and Family Medicine, 2022. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/37214en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationDeglon, M. 2022. The Impact of Extreme Weather Events on Mental Health in Africa: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review. . ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Public Health and Family Medicine. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/37214en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Master Thesis AU - Deglon, Michaele AB - Introduction: The psychosocial impacts of extreme weather events are contributing to the burden of mental illness, exacerbated by pre-existing vulnerabilities. Despite an emerging global interest in this association, Africa remains poorly represented in the literature. Methods: A mixed-methods systematic review of peer-reviewed studies was conducted to determine the adverse mental health outcomes associated with extreme weather events in Africa (2008-2021). The review was conducted in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Results: A total of 12 204 peer-reviewed articles were identified of which 12 were retained for analysis. These studies were all conducted in 8 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Adverse mental health outcomes were identified resulting from flood (n=4), drought (n=4), extreme heat (n=1), bushfire (n=1), and multiple events (n=2). Findings included pathological outcomes with predictable symptomatology including mood disorders; trauma- and stressor-related disorders; and suicide. Additionally, conditions indicating psychological distress which were below the pathological threshold including emotion regulation difficulties, disturbed sleep, alcohol use, stress, and anxiety. The quantitative evidence for the association between extreme weather events and mental health was limited primarily by a lack of longitudinal data, exposure gradient, and comparison to an unaffected group, as well as a failure to provide an objective exposure measure. The qualitative evidence for this association was complimentary but without sufficient clinical measurement these outcomes cannot be verified as psychological morbidities. In addition, this review provided insight into the mental health of vulnerable communities affected by extreme weather events including those living in poverty, farmers, pastoralists, women, and children. Conclusion: This review provided some preliminary evidence for the association between extreme weather events and adverse mental health outcomes for populations in Africa. The review also provides insight to vulnerable populations affected by extreme weather events. Future research with stronger designs and methodologies are recommended. DA - 2022_ DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - Extreme Weather Events KW - Climate Change KW - Mental Health KW - Africa KW - Depression KW - PTSD LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2022 T1 - The Impact of Extreme Weather Events on Mental Health in Africa: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review TI - The Impact of Extreme Weather Events on Mental Health in Africa: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/37214 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/37214
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationDeglon M. The Impact of Extreme Weather Events on Mental Health in Africa: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review. []. ,Faculty of Health Sciences ,Department of Public Health and Family Medicine, 2022 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/37214en_ZA
dc.language.rfc3066eng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Public Health and Family Medicine
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Health Sciences
dc.subjectExtreme Weather Events
dc.subjectClimate Change
dc.subjectMental Health
dc.subjectAfrica
dc.subjectDepression
dc.subjectPTSD
dc.titleThe Impact of Extreme Weather Events on Mental Health in Africa: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationlevelMPH
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