Estimate of the prevalence of depression among older people in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction Among non-communicable diseases, depression is a leading cause of morbidity in elderly people with varying magnitude across countries. No systematic review and meta-analysis has yet examined the pooled prevalence of depression among elderly in Africa. Objectives The current systematic...

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Main Authors: A. Tilahune, N. Mekonnen, B. Duko
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2022-06-01
Series:European Psychiatry
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822016650/type/journal_article
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author A. Tilahune
N. Mekonnen
B. Duko
author_facet A. Tilahune
N. Mekonnen
B. Duko
author_sort A. Tilahune
collection DOAJ
description Introduction Among non-communicable diseases, depression is a leading cause of morbidity in elderly people with varying magnitude across countries. No systematic review and meta-analysis has yet examined the pooled prevalence of depression among elderly in Africa. Objectives The current systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of depression among elderly people in Africa. Methods We have searched CINAHL, PubMed, SCOPUS and Psych-iNFO databases to identify observational studies which reported the prevalence of depression among the elderly. We used a random-effects model due to reported heterogeneity among the studies. The publication bias was examined by using egger’s test, visual inspection of the symmetry in funnel plots and adjusted using Trim and Fill analysis. We used Cochran’s Q and the I2-tests to measure heterogeneity across the studies. Results A total of 23 studies conducted in Africa were included in the current systematic review and meta-analysis, representing a total of 14, 350 elderly population. The pooled prevalence of depression among elderly people in Africa was estimated to be 26.3% (95% Ci; 22.2, 30.4%). The estimated pooled prevalence of depression among the elderly in Africa was much higher (43.1%) in studies that used a screening tool to measure depression when compared to studies that used a diagnostic tool (24.2%). Also, the prevalence of depression among female elderly participant (43.10%) was higher than that of male elderly participant (30.90%). Conclusions One in five elderly population in Africa were depressed. Timely and targeted screening of depression among the elderly and evidence-based interventions were highly recommended. Disclosure No significant relationships.
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spelling doaj.art-d425b008ff134319a68696f88531161e2023-11-17T05:05:33ZengCambridge University PressEuropean Psychiatry0924-93381778-35852022-06-0165S649S64910.1192/j.eurpsy.2022.1665Estimate of the prevalence of depression among older people in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysisA. Tilahune0N. Mekonnen1B. Duko2University of Technology Sydney, Public Health, Sydney, AustraliaHawassa University, Nursing, Hawassa, EthiopiaCurtin University, Public Health, Perth, Australia Introduction Among non-communicable diseases, depression is a leading cause of morbidity in elderly people with varying magnitude across countries. No systematic review and meta-analysis has yet examined the pooled prevalence of depression among elderly in Africa. Objectives The current systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of depression among elderly people in Africa. Methods We have searched CINAHL, PubMed, SCOPUS and Psych-iNFO databases to identify observational studies which reported the prevalence of depression among the elderly. We used a random-effects model due to reported heterogeneity among the studies. The publication bias was examined by using egger’s test, visual inspection of the symmetry in funnel plots and adjusted using Trim and Fill analysis. We used Cochran’s Q and the I2-tests to measure heterogeneity across the studies. Results A total of 23 studies conducted in Africa were included in the current systematic review and meta-analysis, representing a total of 14, 350 elderly population. The pooled prevalence of depression among elderly people in Africa was estimated to be 26.3% (95% Ci; 22.2, 30.4%). The estimated pooled prevalence of depression among the elderly in Africa was much higher (43.1%) in studies that used a screening tool to measure depression when compared to studies that used a diagnostic tool (24.2%). Also, the prevalence of depression among female elderly participant (43.10%) was higher than that of male elderly participant (30.90%). Conclusions One in five elderly population in Africa were depressed. Timely and targeted screening of depression among the elderly and evidence-based interventions were highly recommended. Disclosure No significant relationships. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822016650/type/journal_articleElderlyAfricaPrevalenceDepression
spellingShingle A. Tilahune
N. Mekonnen
B. Duko
Estimate of the prevalence of depression among older people in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis
European Psychiatry
Elderly
Africa
Prevalence
Depression
title Estimate of the prevalence of depression among older people in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full Estimate of the prevalence of depression among older people in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_fullStr Estimate of the prevalence of depression among older people in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed Estimate of the prevalence of depression among older people in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_short Estimate of the prevalence of depression among older people in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_sort estimate of the prevalence of depression among older people in africa a systematic review and meta analysis
topic Elderly
Africa
Prevalence
Depression
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822016650/type/journal_article
work_keys_str_mv AT atilahune estimateoftheprevalenceofdepressionamongolderpeopleinafricaasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT nmekonnen estimateoftheprevalenceofdepressionamongolderpeopleinafricaasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis
AT bduko estimateoftheprevalenceofdepressionamongolderpeopleinafricaasystematicreviewandmetaanalysis