Annika C. Sweetland|Andrea Norcini Pala|Jennifer J. Mootz|Jennifer Chienwen Kao|Catherine Carlson|María A. Oquendo|Bryan Cheng|Gary S. Belkin|Milton L. Wainberg
Food insecurity, mental distress and suicidal ideation in rural Africa: Evidence from Nigeria, Uganda and Ghana
Columbia University|Columbia University|Columbia University|Columbia University|University of Alabama|University of Pennsylvania|Columbia University|New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene|Columbia University
subsaharan africa mental substancerelated disorders account 19 years lived disability yet intersection poverty mental distress poorly understood since psychiatric research conducted highincome countriesto examine prevalence associations food insecurity mental distress suicidal ideation three rural village clusters subsaharan africacrosssectional multivariate analysis sociodemographic variables associated mental distress suicidal ideation three countries sample included 1142 individuals three rural village clusters nigeria n 380 uganda n 380 ghana n 382 food insecurity measured based number months previous year respondents family reported unable eat two square meals per day mental distress assessed using kessler nonspecific psychological distress scale k6 suicidal ideation measured using item primemd sociodemographic variables included gender age literacy occupationthe prevalence individuals moderate severe mental distress nigeria uganda ghana higher previously reported literature 355 308 304 respectively suicidal ideation rates 297 213 109 differences observed mental distress men women sites farmer vs student protective mental distress two sites uganda ghana social indicators age gender literacy food insecurity significantly associated mental distress risk suicidal ideation differed across sites associated food insecurity nigeria female gender uganda older age ugandamental distress suicidal ideation highly prevalent three settings extreme poverty across groups ways always consistent global literature findings suggest research needed better understand social etiology mental distress subsaharan africa