RESUMEN
Natural disasters are complex, global issues that affect people individually, families, and communities, upsetting their emotional wellbeing. This research aims to comprehend the connections between disasters and their effects on mental health. We conducted a systemic review and meta-analysis on the effect of disasters on mental health disorders using defined search terms across three major databases. The search technique adhered to the PECO framework. The study locations were dispersed across Asia, Europe, and America. An electronic search was established in the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials in the Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Medline databases. A random-effects meta-analysis was carried out. The I2 statistic was used to explore heterogeneity. In the random-effects analysis, Tau-squared, τ2, or Tau2 evaluates the effects seen between the study variances. Publication bias was examined. The outcomes of the included studies on mental health issues (n = 48,170) brought on by catastrophic disasters were pooled using a random-effects meta-analysis. The three main mental health illnesses attributed to the disaster catastrophe in most studies were generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), depression, substance use, adjustment disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Storms, including cyclones and snowstorms, had an impact on 5,151 individuals. 38,456 people were harmed by flooding, and 4,563 people were affected by the earthquake. The included studies showed prevalence rates for mental health disorders ranging from 5.8% to 87.6%. The prevalence rates were between 2.2% and 84% for anxiety, 3.23% and 52.70% for depression, and 2.6% and 52% for PTSD, respectively. The point effect estimates of studies included the flood, storm/cyclone, and earthquake were 0.07 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.02-0.12), 0.18 (95% CI: 0.03-0.32), and 0.15 (95% CI: 0.03-0.27), respectively, which revealed a statistically significant positive effect (p-value: < 0.05) with a narrow 95% CI indicating more precise population estimates. However, the pooled effect estimates were not of a large effect size of 0.129 (95% CI: 0.05-0.20). This study found a link between disaster and poorer outcomes for mental health. The risk of psychological morbidity and fatalities increased with relocation and disruption of essential services. Flooding was the most frequent calamity. The "medium human development countries" were found to have the highest prevalence rate of mental health disorders in our meta-analysis. The "very high human development" and "high human development" nations, however, also had a higher prevalence rate of mental health disorders following catastrophic events. This study could aid in the creation of thorough strategies for the mitigation and avoidance of mental health problems during natural disasters. Increased community resilience, improved access to healthcare services, and a suitable mitigation strategy can all help to improve the situation of the disaster's vulnerable population.
RESUMEN
Background Anaemia is a global public health issue that mostly affects children, women, and adults in low- and middle-income countries. Aim This study sought to evaluate the prevalence of anaemia and its contributing factors among South and Southeast Asian (SSEA) women of reproductive age. Methods Data analysis was undertaken utilising data from 10 SSEA countries' Demographic and Health Surveys. The link between anaemia and independent variables was established using a multivariate logistic regression model with a 95% confidence interval. To investigate the relationship between explanatory variables and anaemia, the Pearson's correlations test was carried out. Results In SSEA, the prevalence of anaemia among women (15-49 years old) was 50.17% (95% CI: 39.4, 61.0), ranging from 13.3% (95% CI: 2.5, 24.1) in the Philippines to 70.3% (95% CI: 59.5, 81.1) in Nepal. Being younger, having rural residents, having lower educational attainment, and being in households with lower wealth quantiles were linked to a higher prevalence of anaemia in most countries. Conclusion The findings of this study imply that a variety of individual characteristics play a role in the higher risk of anaemia. To combat anaemia, evidence-based, multidisciplinary policies and initiatives targeting women's health and nutrition, as well as scaling up women's education, empowerment, and socioeconomic position, are needed.