Bridging the Gap: A Scoping Review of Interventions Targeting Caregiver Mental Health in Sub-Saharan Africa

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Wednesday 1:45 pm - Gold 2
  In Roundtable Session: Everyday Resilience: Research on Families, Youth, and Adaptation

Abstract

This review aimed to identify interventions addressing caregiver mental health in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) over the past five years. Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted across three databases. We included articles that describe empirical evaluations. The search yielded 3443 articles, with 25 empirical studies included in the final sample. The interventions primarily targeted symptoms of depression, anxiety, and general distress, with group-based interventions being the most common. Overall treatment outcomes were positive, with significant improvements in mental health outcomes for caregivers in the treatment groups compared to the control group. This review offers invaluable perspectives on effective intervention strategies and informs the development of targeted services to support caregiver mental health.

Authors

• Stansilaus James Marobo, Oakland University

• Hunter C King, Oakland University

• Ethan Mair, Oakland University

• Kwame S Sakyi, Oakland University

• Tomoko Wakabayashi, Oakland University