Keyword: Mental Health

ABSTRACT: Introduction: Workplace stress among healthcare workers is a major occupational and public-health concern, yet post-pandemic evidence from Nigerian tertiary hospitals remains limited. This study assessed perceived stress, psychological distress and workplace stressors among healthcare workers in Abuja, Nigeria.
Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 340 clinical healthcare workers in two public tertiary hospitals. Perceived stress, psychological distress and workplace stressors were measured using validated and structured questionnaires. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Spearman correlation and the Kruskal-Wallis test.
Results: Respondents were predominantly male (57.1%) and nurses/midwives formed the largest cadre (28.2%). The mean perceived-stress score was 25.5 ± 2.88; 36.2% reported high perceived stress and 63.8% reported moderate stress. Probable psychological distress was uncommon (6.8%; mean score 18.0 ± 3.1). Lack of essential equipment or supplies was the most frequently reported stressor (82.1% sometimes/often/always; mean 1.66 ± 0.9). Perceived stress was not significantly correlated with psychological distress (Spearman correlation coefficient = -0.031, p = 0.565). Only fear of litigation was significantly associated with higher perceived stress (Spearman correlation coefficient = 0.285, p = 0.01).
Conclusion: Healthcare workers reported elevated perceived stress, with organisational and resource-related conditions frequently reported. Probable psychological distress was uncommon and was not correlated with perceived stress. Interventions should target equipment and staffing shortages, medico-legal support and staff-wellbeing systems.

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: Despite a significant rise of reported eating disorders all over the world, data from Kazakhstan is obscured by lack of recognition of these conditions as serious health issue that have severe lifelong consequences. The attention to these conditions is long overdue and requires concentrated efforts from public, academia, and public health.

ABSTRACT: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global threat, and sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) bears a disproportionate share of this burden. This narrative review examines how deficiencies in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) contribute to AMR in SSA. It draws on peer-reviewed literature, institutional reports, and regional policy documents published between 2015 and 2025. Sources were identified through databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and WHO/UN databases using combinations of keywords including ‘AMR’, ‘WASH’, ‘Sub-Saharan Africa’, and ‘One Health’. We survey recent literature on the regional AMR problem, the role of inadequate WASH in propagating resistant infections among humans, animals, and the environment, and the relevance of a One Health approach. Key themes include the high AMR mortality in Africa, the persistence of antibiotic residues and pathogens in poorly managed water and sanitation systems, and how poverty-related WASH gaps drive frequent infections that require antibiotics. Evidence suggests that unsafe water and sanitation facilitate the environmental circulation of resistant bacteria and genes. The One Health framework is highlighted as essential for addressing these links, since AMR crosses human, animal, and ecological domains. We conclude that improving WASH infrastructure and practices, alongside integrated AMR strategies, is critical to curb resistance in the region. Focusing on WASH under a One Health perspective can reveal overlooked pathways of AMR spread and inform targeted interventions in SSA.