Keyword: Engagement

ABSTRACT: Depression and anxiety are among the most prevalent mental health conditions affecting children, adolescents, and young people, contributing substantially to the global burden of disease. Despite the availability of effective treatments, access to care remains limited due to structural, economic, and stigma-related barriers, particularly in low-resource settings. Digital mental health interventions have emerged as a scalable and accessible approach to addressing these gaps. This scoping review aimed to map the extent, range, and characteristics of existing evidence on digital interventions targeting depression and anxiety in individuals aged approximately 10–24 years, with a focus on effectiveness, engagement, and implementation. A systematic search of PubMed, Dimensions, and CINAHL was conducted, and primary studies of any design published in English were included. Data were extracted and synthesized using descriptive and thematic approaches. A total of 42 studies were included, covering diverse modalities such as internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy, mobile applications, chatbots, and tele-mental health platforms. Digital interventions were associated with reductions in depressive and anxiety symptoms, particularly in the short term. However, between-group effects were often modest when compared with active controls. Engagement emerged as a key determinant of effectiveness, with higher adherence linked to better outcomes. While feasibility and acceptability were generally high, challenges related to sustained engagement and long-term effectiveness were common. Digital interventions show promise as adjuncts to conventional care but require further optimization and evaluation in real-world settings.

ABSTRACT: One of the major public health emergencies that has affected lives globally is infectious disease outbreaks. These issues are of great concern due to their potential to transcend borders. The control and management of such outbreaks even with the attention channelled towards it globally has been a difficult task in many developing and underdeveloped countries of the world of which the majority of sub-saharan african countries fall under. However, with this review, we aim to contribute to the body of knowledge dedicated towards control of infectious diseases by analyzing the preparedness of Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries in managing infectious disease outbreaks based on lessons from recent outbreaks (with focus on COVID-19, Lassa fever and Ebola outbreaks). In carrying out this narrative review, we make use of PubMed and African Journals Online (AJOL) as the primary literature sources. To ensure we capture publications from reputable organizations that are solely involved in control of infectious diseases in the region, we carried out a grey literature search.
However in this review, we synthesized challenges such as weak healthcare systems, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, inefficient surveillance systems, poor data management and reporting practices, limited laboratory capacity and reliance on external donors for supplies during emergencies.
The review proposes potential interventional measures aimed at addressing these challenges aimed at enhancing the preparedness
The findings from this review provide critical insights into the preparedness gaps and potential interventions, informing policy and practice to enhance the region's resilience future outbreaks.