Document Type
Article
Publication Date
4-19-2022
Publication Title
Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences
Volume
31
Issue
e23
First page number:
1
Last page number:
13
Abstract
Aims There is a lack of evidence related to the prevalence of mental health symptoms as well as their heterogeneities during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Latin America, a large area spanning the equator. The current study aims to provide meta-analytical evidence on mental health symptoms during COVID-19 among frontline healthcare workers, general healthcare workers, the general population and university students in Latin America. Methods Bibliographical databases, such as PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, PsycINFO and medRxiv, were systematically searched to identify pertinent studies up to August 13, 2021. Two coders performed the screening using predefined eligibility criteria. Studies were assigned quality scores using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. The double data extraction method was used to minimise data entry errors. Results A total of 62 studies with 196 950 participants in Latin America were identified. The pooled prevalence of anxiety, depression, distress and insomnia was 35%, 35%, 32% and 35%, respectively. There was a higher prevalence of mental health symptoms in South America compared to Central America (36% v. 28%, p < 0.001), in countries speaking Portuguese (40%) v. Spanish (30%). The pooled prevalence of mental health symptoms in the general population, general healthcare workers, frontline healthcare workers and students in Latin America was 37%, 34%, 33% and 45%, respectively. Conclusions The high yet heterogenous level of prevalence of mental health symptoms emphasises the need for appropriate identification of psychological interventions in Latin America.
Keywords
COVID-19; Healthcare workers; Latin America; Mental health; Meta-analysis; Prevalence
Disciplines
Community Health and Preventive Medicine | Epidemiology | International Public Health
File Format
File Size
781 KB
Language
English
Rights
IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Repository Citation
Zhang, S. X.,
Batra, K.,
Xu, W.,
Liu, T.,
Dong, R. K.,
Yin, A.,
Delios, A. Y.,
Chen, B. Z.,
Chen, R. Z.,
Miller, S.,
Wan, X.,
Ye, W.,
Chen, J.
(2022).
Mental Disorder Symptoms during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Latin America – A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 31(e23),
1-13.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S2045796021000767
Included in
Community Health and Preventive Medicine Commons, Epidemiology Commons, International Public Health Commons