Mental health and mental health help-seeking behaviors among first-generation voluntary African migrants: A systematic review.
<h4>Purpose</h4>Mental health challenges are highly prevalent in African migrants. However, understanding of mental health outcomes in first-generation voluntary African migrants is limited, despite the unique challenges faced by this migrant subgroup. This review aimed to synthesize the...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2024-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0298634 |
| _version_ | 1797238399085576192 |
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| author | Edith N Botchway-Commey Obed Adonteng-Kissi Nnaemeka Meribe David Chisanga Ahmed A Moustafa Agness Tembo Frank Darkwa Baffour Kathomi Gatwiri Aunty Kerrie Doyle Lillian Mwanri Uchechukwu Levi Osuagwu |
| author_facet | Edith N Botchway-Commey Obed Adonteng-Kissi Nnaemeka Meribe David Chisanga Ahmed A Moustafa Agness Tembo Frank Darkwa Baffour Kathomi Gatwiri Aunty Kerrie Doyle Lillian Mwanri Uchechukwu Levi Osuagwu |
| author_sort | Edith N Botchway-Commey |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <h4>Purpose</h4>Mental health challenges are highly prevalent in African migrants. However, understanding of mental health outcomes in first-generation voluntary African migrants is limited, despite the unique challenges faced by this migrant subgroup. This review aimed to synthesize the literature to understand the mental health challenges, help-seeking behavior, and the relationship between mental health and mental health help-seeking behavior in first-generation voluntary African migrants living outside Africa.<h4>Methods</h4>Medline Complete, EMBASE, CINAHL Complete, and APA PsychINFO were searched for studies published between January 2012 to December 2023. Retrieved articles were processed, data from selected articles were extracted and synthesized to address the study aims, and included studies were evaluated for risk of bias.<h4>Results</h4>Eight studies were included, including four quantitative and four qualitative studies, which focused on women with postnatal depression. Mental health challenges reported in the quantitative studies were depression, interpersonal disorders, and work-related stress. Risk (e.g., neglect from health professionals and lack of social/spousal support) and protective (e.g., sensitivity of community services and faith) factors associated with mental health were identified. Barriers (e.g., cultural beliefs about mental health and racial discrimination) and facilitators (sensitizing African women about mental health) of mental health help-seeking behavior were also identified. No significant relationship was reported between mental health and mental health help-seeking behavior, and the risk of bias results indicated some methodological flaws in the studies.<h4>Conclusion</h4>This review shows the dearth of research focusing on mental health and help-seeking behavior in this subgroup of African migrants. The findings highlight the importance of African migrants, especially mothers with newborns, examining cultural beliefs that may impact their mental health and willingness to seek help. Receiving countries should also strive to understand the needs of first-generation voluntary African migrants living abroad and offer mental health support that is patient-centered and culturally sensitive. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T17:35:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6c226093b1f2479094ec7f152790100c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T17:35:01Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-6c226093b1f2479094ec7f152790100c2024-03-28T05:34:59ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032024-01-01193e029863410.1371/journal.pone.0298634Mental health and mental health help-seeking behaviors among first-generation voluntary African migrants: A systematic review.Edith N Botchway-CommeyObed Adonteng-KissiNnaemeka MeribeDavid ChisangaAhmed A MoustafaAgness TemboFrank Darkwa BaffourKathomi GatwiriAunty Kerrie DoyleLillian MwanriUchechukwu Levi Osuagwu<h4>Purpose</h4>Mental health challenges are highly prevalent in African migrants. However, understanding of mental health outcomes in first-generation voluntary African migrants is limited, despite the unique challenges faced by this migrant subgroup. This review aimed to synthesize the literature to understand the mental health challenges, help-seeking behavior, and the relationship between mental health and mental health help-seeking behavior in first-generation voluntary African migrants living outside Africa.<h4>Methods</h4>Medline Complete, EMBASE, CINAHL Complete, and APA PsychINFO were searched for studies published between January 2012 to December 2023. Retrieved articles were processed, data from selected articles were extracted and synthesized to address the study aims, and included studies were evaluated for risk of bias.<h4>Results</h4>Eight studies were included, including four quantitative and four qualitative studies, which focused on women with postnatal depression. Mental health challenges reported in the quantitative studies were depression, interpersonal disorders, and work-related stress. Risk (e.g., neglect from health professionals and lack of social/spousal support) and protective (e.g., sensitivity of community services and faith) factors associated with mental health were identified. Barriers (e.g., cultural beliefs about mental health and racial discrimination) and facilitators (sensitizing African women about mental health) of mental health help-seeking behavior were also identified. No significant relationship was reported between mental health and mental health help-seeking behavior, and the risk of bias results indicated some methodological flaws in the studies.<h4>Conclusion</h4>This review shows the dearth of research focusing on mental health and help-seeking behavior in this subgroup of African migrants. The findings highlight the importance of African migrants, especially mothers with newborns, examining cultural beliefs that may impact their mental health and willingness to seek help. Receiving countries should also strive to understand the needs of first-generation voluntary African migrants living abroad and offer mental health support that is patient-centered and culturally sensitive.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0298634 |
| spellingShingle | Edith N Botchway-Commey Obed Adonteng-Kissi Nnaemeka Meribe David Chisanga Ahmed A Moustafa Agness Tembo Frank Darkwa Baffour Kathomi Gatwiri Aunty Kerrie Doyle Lillian Mwanri Uchechukwu Levi Osuagwu Mental health and mental health help-seeking behaviors among first-generation voluntary African migrants: A systematic review. PLoS ONE |
| title | Mental health and mental health help-seeking behaviors among first-generation voluntary African migrants: A systematic review. |
| title_full | Mental health and mental health help-seeking behaviors among first-generation voluntary African migrants: A systematic review. |
| title_fullStr | Mental health and mental health help-seeking behaviors among first-generation voluntary African migrants: A systematic review. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mental health and mental health help-seeking behaviors among first-generation voluntary African migrants: A systematic review. |
| title_short | Mental health and mental health help-seeking behaviors among first-generation voluntary African migrants: A systematic review. |
| title_sort | mental health and mental health help seeking behaviors among first generation voluntary african migrants a systematic review |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0298634 |
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