Impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of adolescents and youth in Nairobi, Kenya
ObjectiveTo report on the mental health status of adolescents and youth in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic in Nairobi County, Kenya.MethodologyThis was a mixed-methods study with cross-sectional quantitative and qualitative components conducted in Nairobi County, Kenya from August to September 202...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1209836/full |
| _version_ | 1827355948424888320 |
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| author | Peter B. Gichangi Peter B. Gichangi Peter B. Gichangi Meagan E. Byrne Mary N. Thiongo Michael Waithaka Bianca Devoto Elizabeth Gummerson Shannon N. Wood Philip Anglewicz Michele R. Decker |
| author_facet | Peter B. Gichangi Peter B. Gichangi Peter B. Gichangi Meagan E. Byrne Mary N. Thiongo Michael Waithaka Bianca Devoto Elizabeth Gummerson Shannon N. Wood Philip Anglewicz Michele R. Decker |
| author_sort | Peter B. Gichangi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ObjectiveTo report on the mental health status of adolescents and youth in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic in Nairobi County, Kenya.MethodologyThis was a mixed-methods study with cross-sectional quantitative and qualitative components conducted in Nairobi County, Kenya from August to September 2020. The quantitative survey involved phone interviews of n = 1,217 adolescents and youth. Qualitative components included virtual focus group discussions (FGDs) with adolescents and youth (n = 64 unmarried youths aged 16–25 years, across 8 FGDs) and youth-serving stakeholders (n = 34, across 4 FGDs), key informant interviews (n = 12 higher-level stakeholders from Ministries of Health, Gender, and Education), and in-depth interviews with youth (n = 20) so as to examine the COVID-19 impact on mental health.ResultsAmong the participants, 26.6% of young men and 30.0% of young women reported probable depressive symptoms, of whom 37.7% of young men and 38.9% of young women reported little interest or pleasure in doing various activities. Hopelessness and feeling down nearly every day was additionally reported by 10.7% of young women and 6.3% of young men. Further, about 8.8% of young men and 7.6% of young women reported they could not get the emotional help and support they may need from people in their life. Multivariable regression results showed an association between depressive symptoms and reduced working hours due to COVID-19 and increased intimate partner violence. Additionally, the results show that respondents with higher emotional help and support were less likely to report depressive symptoms. Qualitative results confirm the quantitative findings and exemplify the negative behavior arising from the impact of adherence to COVID-19 prevention measures.ConclusionMental health issues were common among adolescents and youth and may have been augmented by isolation and economic hardships brought about by COVID-19 restrictions. There is a need for concerted efforts to support adolescents and young people to meet their mental health needs, while considering the unique variations by gender. There is need to urgently strengthen the mental health system in Kenya, including via integrating psychosocial support services in communities, schools, and healthcare services, to ensure adolescents and young persons are not left behind. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T04:51:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-80bac98e607c4b53afd7dd77359a7ee2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T04:51:44Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-80bac98e607c4b53afd7dd77359a7ee22024-02-08T04:49:03ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402024-02-011410.3389/fpsyt.2023.12098361209836Impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of adolescents and youth in Nairobi, KenyaPeter B. Gichangi0Peter B. Gichangi1Peter B. Gichangi2Meagan E. Byrne3Mary N. Thiongo4Michael Waithaka5Bianca Devoto6Elizabeth Gummerson7Shannon N. Wood8Philip Anglewicz9Michele R. Decker10International Centre for Reproductive Health Kenya, Mombasa, KenyaDepartment of Environment and Health Sciences, Technical University of Mombasa, Mombasa, KenyaDepartment of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, BelgiumDepartment of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United StatesInternational Centre for Reproductive Health Kenya, Mombasa, KenyaInternational Centre for Reproductive Health Kenya, Mombasa, KenyaDepartment of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United StatesDepartment of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United StatesDepartment of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United StatesDepartment of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United StatesDepartment of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United StatesObjectiveTo report on the mental health status of adolescents and youth in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic in Nairobi County, Kenya.MethodologyThis was a mixed-methods study with cross-sectional quantitative and qualitative components conducted in Nairobi County, Kenya from August to September 2020. The quantitative survey involved phone interviews of n = 1,217 adolescents and youth. Qualitative components included virtual focus group discussions (FGDs) with adolescents and youth (n = 64 unmarried youths aged 16–25 years, across 8 FGDs) and youth-serving stakeholders (n = 34, across 4 FGDs), key informant interviews (n = 12 higher-level stakeholders from Ministries of Health, Gender, and Education), and in-depth interviews with youth (n = 20) so as to examine the COVID-19 impact on mental health.ResultsAmong the participants, 26.6% of young men and 30.0% of young women reported probable depressive symptoms, of whom 37.7% of young men and 38.9% of young women reported little interest or pleasure in doing various activities. Hopelessness and feeling down nearly every day was additionally reported by 10.7% of young women and 6.3% of young men. Further, about 8.8% of young men and 7.6% of young women reported they could not get the emotional help and support they may need from people in their life. Multivariable regression results showed an association between depressive symptoms and reduced working hours due to COVID-19 and increased intimate partner violence. Additionally, the results show that respondents with higher emotional help and support were less likely to report depressive symptoms. Qualitative results confirm the quantitative findings and exemplify the negative behavior arising from the impact of adherence to COVID-19 prevention measures.ConclusionMental health issues were common among adolescents and youth and may have been augmented by isolation and economic hardships brought about by COVID-19 restrictions. There is a need for concerted efforts to support adolescents and young people to meet their mental health needs, while considering the unique variations by gender. There is need to urgently strengthen the mental health system in Kenya, including via integrating psychosocial support services in communities, schools, and healthcare services, to ensure adolescents and young persons are not left behind.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1209836/fulladolescentsCOVID-19depressionKenyamental healthmixed method |
| spellingShingle | Peter B. Gichangi Peter B. Gichangi Peter B. Gichangi Meagan E. Byrne Mary N. Thiongo Michael Waithaka Bianca Devoto Elizabeth Gummerson Shannon N. Wood Philip Anglewicz Michele R. Decker Impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of adolescents and youth in Nairobi, Kenya Frontiers in Psychiatry adolescents COVID-19 depression Kenya mental health mixed method |
| title | Impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of adolescents and youth in Nairobi, Kenya |
| title_full | Impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of adolescents and youth in Nairobi, Kenya |
| title_fullStr | Impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of adolescents and youth in Nairobi, Kenya |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of adolescents and youth in Nairobi, Kenya |
| title_short | Impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of adolescents and youth in Nairobi, Kenya |
| title_sort | impact of covid 19 on the mental health of adolescents and youth in nairobi kenya |
| topic | adolescents COVID-19 depression Kenya mental health mixed method |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1209836/full |
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