Research by Weaver and Colleagues on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders in Kenya
Posted: 1/5/2024 (CSDE Research)
CSDE Affiliate Dr. Marcia Weaver (Health Metrics Sciences, Global Health, Health Systems and Population Health) and co-authors published “Burden and risk factors of mental and substance use disorders among adolescents and young adults in Kenya: results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019” in eClinical Medicine. Mental and substance use disorders are a major public health concern globally, with high rates of morbidity for all disorders, and mortality for primarily substance use disorders. The first author, Dr. Manasi Kumar (Global Health) initiated the article with colleagues at the Kenyan Ministry of Health to summarize Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factor (GBD) Study 2019 results for ages 10 to 24 years. Mental disorders are the second leading cause of disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), which combine the burden of morbidity and mortality, in these age groups. Burden for mental disorders is higher for females than males, and for substance use disorders is higher for males than females. The burden of mental and substance abuse disorders increases with age, with the exceptions of autism spectrum disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, conduct disorder, and idiopathic developmental intellectual disability. Among the 17% of DALYs for mental disorders that are attributable to risk factors, bullying and victimization accounted for 65%.