Infant Mental Health Research in Africa: a call for action for research in the next 10 years. (2nd June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tomlinson, Mark; Morgan, Barak
• Is Part Of: Global mental health. Volume 2(2015) Supplement 1
• Publication Date: 2015-06-02
• Subjects: Africa, -- call for action, -- child development, -- infant mental health; Mental health -- Periodicals; Mental health care -- Periodicals; Mental health policy -- Periodicals; World health -- Periodicals; 362.19689
• DOI: 10.1017/gmh.2015.4
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2054-4251

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Less than 3% of articles published in the peer reviewed literature include data from low- and middle-income countries – where 90% of the world's infants live. Methods: In this paper, we discuss the context of infancy in Africa and the conditions of adversity obtaining in Africa. Results: We discuss the implications of poverty on parenting, and linked to this outline the impact of maternal depression on infant development. Conclusions: We outline three features of the field of infant mental health research in Africa, and issue a call for action about what we believe is needed in order to develop the field in the next decade.