Abstract
(1) Background: Food insufficiency is a global pandemic affecting many people, especially those residing in developing countries. African countries have been affected by food insufficiency, which is mostly caused by drought or wars. Famine or food insufficiency has been reported to have an impact on the psychological health and quality of life of people affected. This review assessed the mental health outcomes of famine and food insufficiency in West Africa. (2) Methods: A search of the published literature was conducted using PubMed, PsycExtra, Medline, and PsycINFO databases. The search was limited to papers published in English between the years 2010 and 2020. Two reviewers independently screened the titles and abstracts of the retrieved papers using pre-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria and a third reviewer resolved conflicts. Data were extracted and appraised using a data extraction form and an appraisal checklist. (3) Results: A total of 81 papers were identified through the journal databases search. Out of the seven papers that met the inclusion criteria, six papers used cross-sectional designs and one paper used an experimental design. The six papers used quantitative approach for data collection, while the one paper used a qualitative technique. The evidence synthesized from this review indicated that exposure to food insecurity or insufficiency is associated with increased psychological distress including anxiety, sleeplessness, intellectual disability, general mental, and emotional instability. (4) Conclusions: This review strongly highlights the need for further research across the sub-region. It further suggests that famine and food insufficiency are associated with significant mental health problems in adults and impacts the cognitive and intellectual development of children. Although there is paucity of literature about famine and its impact on mental health in West Africa, these findings are important for developing social policy initiatives for increasing food supply and mental health interventions for all ages.
Highlights
IntroductionAccording to the United Nations, hunger can be described as periods when the population is facing severe food insecurities in which people can go without food for days, due to lack of money, food access, and/or other resources [1]
We examine the long-term effects of childhood malnutrition that was the consequence of a severe famine in
During the full-text assessment for eligibility, eleven records were screened, and four studies were excluded for not having mental health outcomes related to famine and food insufficiency
Summary
According to the United Nations, hunger can be described as periods when the population is facing severe food insecurities in which people can go without food for days, due to lack of money, food access, and/or other resources [1]. Food security is a complex issue and defined as “a state where all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary and food preferences for an active and healthy life” [2]. African countries have been affected by food insecurity and, according to the statistics, 98 million have faced food shortage in 2020 alone [5]. Famine or food insecurity are mostly caused by conflict, climate variability and extremes, inefficient food supply chains, and economic downturns in Africa [1]. Despite growing interest in the mutually reinforcing association between poverty and mental ill-health, there is lack of published evidence in Africa [6]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
