Factors affecting women’s mental health in Nigeria in the past and present: A systematic review
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
This study conducted a systematic review to explore the contemporary and historical determinants influencing women's mental health in Nigeria. Utilizing databases such as Web of Science, PubMed, Sage, Medline, and BioMed Central, a comprehensive search was performed to identify relevant literature. After carefully applying predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, 39 published research papers were selected for the review. The study examines various factors impacting women's mental health in Nigeria, including socio-economic, health-related and cultural determinants. Specifically, socio-economic factors such as poverty were analyzed in 21 studies while health-related issues such as postpartum depression were addressed in 8 studies. In addition, cultural elements, including psychological traumas leading to conditions like psychosis, sadness, and stigma, were explored in 10 studies. The findings highlight the need to prioritize women's mental health in Nigeria, emphasizing the interconnectedness of societal well-being, which includes both physical and mental health. Based on these findings, it is essential for policymakers in Nigeria to implement comprehensive mental health initiatives that target the socio-economic, health-related and cultural factors highlighted in the research. The delivery of accessible and affordable mental health services customized to the specific needs of Nigerian women should be prioritized.
Downloads
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
References
Adegoju, F. A., and Abon, J. K. (2021). Effect of physical exercise participation on selected indices of mental health between student athletes and non-athletes of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. European Journal of Physical Education and Sport Science, 6(10), 55–74.
Adejimi, M. O. (2021). Determinants of substance abuse among users with mental health issues in Ogun state, Nigeria. Doctoral dissertation. Walden University, USA.
Adeosun, O. T., and Owolabi, K. E. (2021). Gender inequality: Determinants and outcomes in Nigeria. Journal of Business and Socio-Economic Development, 1(2), 165–181.
Adimula, A. R., and Ijere, I. N. (2019). Psychological impacts and treatment of HIV/AIDS among Nigerian women: New perspective toward cultural implications and gender equality. Madridge Journal of AIDS, 3(1), 50–59.
Ajayi, C. E., Chantler, K., and Radford, L. (2022). The role of cultural beliefs, norms, and practices in Nigerian women’s experiences of sexual abuse and violence. Violence Against Women, 28(2), 465–486.
American Psychological Association. (2014). Women & socioeconomic status [Infographic]. [Online URL: https://www.apa.org/pi/ses/resources/publications/factsheet-women.pdf] accessed on December 12, 2023.
Andriamahery, A., and Qamruzzaman, M. (2022). Do access to finance, technical know-how, and financial literacy offer women empowerment through women’s entrepreneurial development? Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 776844.
Apara, O., Aina, I., and Musa-Agboneni, O. (2020). Early child birth as the leading cause of obstetric fistula in Nigeria: A legal perspective. African Journal of Law and Human Rights, 4(1), 137–148.
Asaye, M. M., Muche, H. A., and Zelalem, E. D. (2020). Prevalence and predictors of postpartum depression: Northwest Ethiopia. Psychiatry Journal, 2020(1), 9565678.
Ayoub, K., Shaheen, A., and Hajat, S. (2020). Postpartum depression in the Arab region: A systematic literature review. Clinical Practice and Epidemiology in Mental Health, 16(Suppl-1), 142–155.
Bau, N., Khanna, G., Low, C., Shah, M., Sharmin, S., and Voena, A. (2022). Women’s well-being during a pandemic and its containment. Journal of Development Economics, 156, 102839.
Baysak, E., Yorguner, N., Kandemir, G., Denizman, I. A., and Akvardar, Y. (2021). Is early marriage practice a problem for women living in Istanbul? A qualitative study. Archives of Women’s Mental Health, 24, 243–250.
Bengtson, L. (2023). Trauma, PTSD, and self-efficacy: Predictors of reproductive healthcare utilization in sexual violence survivors. Doctor’s thesis. Idaho State University, USA.
Bridger, E., and Daly, M. (2020). Intergenerational social mobility predicts midlife well-being: Prospective evidence from two large British cohorts. Social Science and Medicine, 261, 113217.
Burns, M. N., Ryan, D. T., Garofalo, R., Newcomb, M. E., and Mustanski, B. (2015). Mental health disorders in young urban sexual minority men. Journal of Adolescent Health, 56(1), 52–58.
Cantwell, R. (2021). Mental disorder in pregnancy and the early postpartum. Anaesthesia, 76(S4), 76–83.
Company-Córdoba, R., Gómez-Baya, D., López-Gaviño, F., and Ibáñez-Alfonso, J. A. (2020). Mental health, quality of life and violence exposure in low-socioeconomic status children and adolescents of Guatemala. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(20), 7620.
David, C., Agbonome, P. C., Chinedu, D., Egbum, P., and Barnarby, J. (2023). Inadequacies in mental health centres in Anambra state: The case of negligence of depression as a mental illness and the need for a Depression Treatment Centre in Awka. African Journal of Educational Management, Teaching and Entrepreneurship Studies, 9(1), 163–172.
Dawson, M. (2021). Domestic homicide review processes as a method of learning. In The Routledge International Handbook of Domestic Violence and Abuse (Devaney, J., Bradbury-Jones, C., Macy, R. J., Øverlien, C., and Holt, S., Eds.), pp. 671–684. London: Routledge.
Duby, Z., McClinton Appollis, T., Jonas, K., Maruping, K., Dietrich, J., LoVette, A., Kuo, C., Vanleeuw, L., and Mathews, C. (2021). “As a young pregnant girl… the challenges you face”: Exploring the intersection between mental health and sexual and reproductive health amongst adolescent girls and young women in South Africa. AIDS and Behavior, 25, 344–353.
Earp, B. D. (2020). Why was the U.S. ban on ‘female genital mutilation ruled unconstitutional, and what does this have to do with male circumcision? Ethics, Medicine and Public Health, 15, 100533.
Efevbera, Y., and Bhabha, J. (2020). Defining and deconstructing girl child marriage and applications to global public health. BMC Public Health, 20, 1547.
Ellis, L. A., Lee, M. D., Ijaz, K., Smith, J., Braithwaite, J., and Yin, K. (2020). COVID-19 as ‘Game changer’ for the physical activity and mental well-being of augmented reality game players during the pandemic: Mixed methods survey study. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 22(12), e25117.
England, P., Levine, A., and Mishel, E. (2020). Progress toward gender equality in the United States has slowed or stalled. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 117(13), 6990–6997.
Evans, A., and Abrahamson, K. (2020). The influence of stigma on suicide bereavement: A systematic review. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 58(4), 21–27.
Feyisetan, B., and Oyediran, K. A. (2020). Can married or cohabiting women negotiate protective sex? Findings from demographic and health surveys of two West African countries. Journal of Biosocial Science, 52(6), 785–808.
Feyissa, G. T., Tolu, L. B., Soboka, M., and Ezeh, A. (2023). Effectiveness of interventions to reduce child marriage and teen pregnancy in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review of quantitative evidence. Frontiers in Reproductive Health, 5, 1105390.
Galletta, S., Mazzù, S., Naciti, V., and Paltrinieri, A. (2024). A PRISMA systematic review of greenwashing in the banking industry: A call for action. Research in International Business and Finance, 69, 102262.
Ganson, K. T., Tsai, A. C., Weiser, S. D., Benabou, S. E., and Nagata, J. M. (2021). Job insecurity and symptoms of anxiety and depression among U.S. young adults during COVID-19. Journal of Adolescent Health, 68(1), 53–56.
Hajj, A. E., Wardy, N., Haidar, S., Bourgi, D., Haddad, M. E., Chammas, D. E., Osta, N. E., Khabbaz, L. R., and Papazian, T. (2020). Menopausal symptoms, physical activity level and quality of life of women living in the Mediterranean region. PLOS ONE, 15(3), e0230515.
Iheanacho, T., Nduanya, U. C., Slinkard, S., Ogidi, A. G., Patel, D., Itanyi, I. U., Naeem, F., Spiegelman, D., and Ezeanolue, E. E. (2021). Utilizing a church-based platform for mental health interventions: Exploring the role of the clergy and the treatment preference of women with depression. Global Mental Health, 8, e5.
Jidong, D. E., Husain, N., Ike, T. J., Murshed, M., Pwajok, J. Y., Roche, A., Karick, H., Dagona, Z. K., Karuri, G. S., Francis, C., Mwankon, S. B., and Nyam, P. P. (2021). Maternal mental health and child well-being in Nigeria: A systematic review. Health Psychology Open, 8(1), 20551029211012199.
Kalu, U. C., and Umunna, O. (2022). Harmful cultural practice and women’s rights in Nigeria. Law and Social Justice Review, 3(3), 107–115.
Kandala, N.-B., and Komba, P. N. (2018). Female Genital Mutilation around The World: Analysis of Medical Aspects, Law and Practice. Cham: Springer, p. 226.
Mazza, M., Marano, G., del Castillo, A. G., Chieffo, D., Monti, L., Janiri, D., Moccia, L., and Sani, G. (2021). Intimate partner violence: A loop of abuse, depression and victimization. World Journal of Psychiatry, 11(6), 215–221.
Melese, G., Tesfa, M., Sharew, Y., and Mehare, T. (2020). Knowledge, attitude, practice, and predictors of female genital mutilation in Degadamot district, Amhara regional state, Northwest Ethiopia, 2018. BMC Women’s Health, 20, 178.
Melesse, D. Y., Mutua, M. K., Choudhury, A., Wado, Y. D., Faye, C. M., Neal, S., and Boerma, T. (2020). Adolescent sexual and reproductive health in sub-Saharan Africa: Who is left behind? BMJ Global Health, 5(1), e002231.
Miller, F. A., Dulal, S., Rai, A., Gram, L., Harris-Fry, H., and Saville, N. M. (2023). “Can’t live willingly”: A thematic synthesis of qualitative evidence exploring how early marriage and early pregnancy affect experiences of pregnancy in South Asia. PLOS Global Public Health, 3(10), e0002279.
Monostori, J., Szabó, L., and Kopcsó, K. (2023). The impact of family complexity on the risk of developmental delay and socio-emotional difficulties in early childhood. Societies, 13(8), 192.
Mukaila, R., Falola, A., Akanbi, S.-U. O., Aboaba, K. O., and Obetta, A. E. (2022). Drivers of poverty among rural women in Nigeria: Implication for poverty alleviation and rural development. Journal of Rural and Community Development, 17(1), 32–48.
Nakua, E. K., Amissah, J., Tawiah, P., Barnie, B., Donkor, P., and Mock, C. (2023). The prevalence and correlates of depression among older adults in greater Kumasi of the Ashanti region. BMC Public Health, 23, 763.
Nanda, V., Nayak, M., and Goldstein, J. (2020). Global efforts to realize the essential but elusive goal of gender equality and women’s empowerment (SDG 5). Denver Journal of International Law and Policy, 48(1), 1–64.
Navarro-Carrillo, G., Alonso-Ferres, M., Moya, M., and Valor-Segura, I. (2020). Socioeconomic status and psychological well-being: Revisiting the role of subjective socioeconomic status. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 1303.
Nochaiwong, S., Ruengorn, C., Thavorn, K., Hutton, B., Awiphan, R., Phosuya, C., Ruanta, Y., Wongpakaran, N., and Wongpakaran, T. (2021). Global prevalence of mental health issues among the general population during the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Scientific Reports, 11, 10173.
Obadina, I. (2023). Rights-based approach to maternal health: Constitutionalizing protection of women’s reproductive rights in Nigeria. Doctoral dissertation. University of Ottawa, Canada.
Odufuwa, O. T., Olaniyan, O., and Okuonzi, S. A. (2022). Determinants of mental healthcare-seeking behavior of postpartum women in Ibadan, Nigeria. Frontiers in Global Women’s Health, 3, 787263.
Ogunwale, A. (2023). Implementation of the Nigerian Mental Health Act 2021. The Lancet Psychiatry, 10(11), 826–828.
Parkinson, D. (2022). Gender-based violence and disaster. In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Natural Hazard Science (Benouar, D., Ed.), pp. 1–42. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Russo, N. F., and Tartaro, J. (2008). Women and mental health. In Psychology of Women: A Handbook of Issues and Theories (Denmark, F. L., and Paludi, M., Eds.), 2nd, pp. 440–483. Westport, CT: Praeger.
Sadowsky, J. (2023). Imperial Bedlam: Institutions of Madness in Colonial Southwest Nigeria (Series: Medicine and Society, Volume 10). Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, pp. 12–17.
Smith, A. M. A., Rissel, C. E., Richters, J., Grulich, A. E., and de Visser, R. O. (2003). Sex in Australia: Sexual identity, sexual attraction and sexual experience among a representative sample of adults. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 27(2), 138–145.
Solmi, M., Radua, J., Olivola, M., Croce, E., Soardo, L., de Pablo, G. S., Il Shin, J., Kirkbride, J. B., Jones, P., Kim, J. H., Kim, J. Y., Carvalho, A. F., Seeman, M. V., Correll, C. U., and Fusar-Poli, P. (2022). Age at onset of mental disorders worldwide: Large-scale meta-analysis of 192 epidemiological studies. Molecular Psychiatry, 27, 281–295.
Steel, Z., Marnane, C., Iranpour, C., Chey, T., Jackson, J. W., Patel, V., and Silove, D. (2014). The global prevalence of common mental disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis 1980-2013. International Journal of Epidemiology, 43(2), 476–493.
Sun, S., Pachankis, J. E., Li, X., and Operario, D. (2020). Addressing minority stress and mental health among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China. Current HIV/AIDS Reports, 17, 35–62.
Tesfaw, G., Kibru, B., and Ayano, G. (2020). Prevalence and factors associated with higher levels of perceived stigma among people with schizophrenia Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 14, 19.
Thapa, S. B., Mainali, A., Schwank, S. E., and Acharya, G. (2020). Maternal mental health in the time of the COVID‐19 pandemic. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, 99(7), 817–818.
Timonera, P. (2024). The prevalence of violence against women in the Philippines (Research proposal). University of San Carlos, Philippines.
Wang, Z., Liu, J., Shuai, H., Cai, Z., Fu, X., Liu, Y., Xiao, X., Zhang, W., Krabbendam, E., Liu, S., Liu, Z., Li, Z., and Yang, B. X. (2021). Mapping global prevalence of depression among postpartum women. Translational Psychiatry, 11, 543.
Wren-Lewis, S., and Alexandrova, A. (2021). Mental health without well-being. The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy, 46(6), 684–703.