{ "abstract": "Mozambique is home to 18 million children and adolescents largely underrepresented in mental health research. We conducted a systematic review of evidence-based resources (prevalence estimates, assessment instruments, and interventions) on mental health-related outcomes addressing individuals aged 0–19 years in Mozambique. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Google Scholar, African Index Medicus, and local catalogues. Extraction followed COSMIN and Cochrane manuals (PROSPERO registration: CRD420251016208). The search yielded 81 unique publications, including 61 reports presenting prevalence estimates from 25 studies, 29 reports providing data on 42 assessment instruments, and 9 intervention reports describing 8 intervention trials. The clinical prevalence of mental disorders were estimated in two surveys, conducted in Nampula (ADHD: 13·4%; N = 748, 6–18 years) and Maputo (any mental diagnosis: 23%, anxiety disorders: 17·5%; major depression episode: 8·5%; disruptive behavior disorder: 6·6%; substance use disorders: 4·5%; ADHD: 3·3%; PTSD: 1·2%; N = 486, 12–19 years). Most research focused on psychosocial adversities, with nationally representative adolescent surveys reporting significant exposure to violence (physical/emotional violence annually: 24·86%; girls suffering intimate partner violence: 21·11%; lifetime sexual abuse: 16·55%). National suicide rates were highest among 15–19-year-olds (1·53 per 100,000). Only four instruments were cross-culturally adapted and showed reliable psychometrics (MINI-KID, GAD-7, PHQ-A, and SDQ), whilst unadapted tools performed poorly. There was a single randomized clinical trial which reported a cost-effective intervention for neurodevelopment among high-poverty preschoolers. Children and adolescents in Mozambique face significant psychosocial adversity, and available evidence suggests a substantial burden of mental disorders according to limited clinical data. There are few available instruments assessing mental conditions, and culturally sensitive approaches are warranted for strengthening local research.", "abstract_shown": true, "affiliations": [ "Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Global Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Child Mind Institute (CMI), New York, New York, United States of America.", "Department of Mental Health, Mozambique Ministry of Health, Maputo, Mozambique.", "Hospital Psiquiátrico de Nampula, Nampula, Mozambique.", "Programa de Pós Graduação em Psiquiatria e Ciências do Comportamento, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.", "Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, Brazil.", "Department of Psychiatry, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil.", "Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clínicas de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.", "Medical Council, Centro Universitário de Jaguariúna (UNIFAJ) and Centro Universitário Max Planck (UNIMAX), Jaguariúna and Indaiatuba, São Paulo, Brazil.", "National Institute of Developmental Psychiatry and National Center for Innovation and Research in Mental Health, São Paulo, Brazil.", "Department of Medicine, Beira Central Hospital, Beira, Mozambique.", "Faculty of Health Science, Catholic University of Mozambique, Beira, Mozambique.", "Department of Psychiatry and Department of Preventive Medicine, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.", "Mozambique Institute for Health Education and Research (MIHER), Maputo, Mozambique.", "Center for Global Mental Health Equity, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America." ], "article_type": "Research Article", "arxiv": null, "author_total": 12, "authors": [ { "affs": [ 0, 1, 2 ], "name": "Helena Mutede Cutótua Daniel" }, { "affs": [ 0, 3, 4 ], "name": "Lauro Estivalete Marchionatti", "orcid": "0000-0003-4222-868X" }, { "affs": [ 0, 5, 6 ], "name": "Jessica Azevedo Veronesi" }, { "affs": [ 0, 5, 6 ], "name": "André Cardoso Campello" }, { "affs": [ 0, 3, 4, 7, 8 ], "name": "Luis Augusto Rohde" }, { "affs": [ 0, 5 ], "name": "Caio Borba Casella", "orcid": "0000-0003-2048-5909" }, { "affs": [ 0 ], "name": "Peter Raucci" }, { "affs": [ 1, 9, 10 ], "name": "Afonso Mazine Tiago Fumo" }, { "affs": [ 11 ], "name": "Jair Mari" }, { "affs": [ 0, 3, 4 ], "name": "Giovanni Abrahão Salum" }, { "affs": [ 0, 1, 12 ], "name": "Lidia Gouveia" }, { "affs": [ 0, 13 ], "name": "Zeina Mneimneh", "orcid": "0000-0002-1091-7838" } ], "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/69zjgrxxjag5f.bib", "cited_by": 0, "doi": "10.1371/journal.pgph.0007513", "fulltext_url": "https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0007513", "id": "69zjgrxxjag5f", "issns": [ "2767-3375" ], "landing_url": "https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0007513", "language": "eng", "licence": "CC-BY", "licence_label": "CC BY", "licence_source": "article", "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/", "metadata_licence": null, "native_subjects": [ [ "openalex", "3207|Mental Health Treatment and Access" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Psychology/Psychometrics" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Mental health and psychiatry" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Mental health and psychiatry/Child psychiatry" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Mental health and psychiatry/Neuropsychiatric disorders/Anxiety disorders" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Mental health and psychiatry/Neuroses/Anxiety disorders" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Public and occupational health/Global health" ], [ "plos", "/People and places/Geographical locations/Africa/Mozambique" ], [ "plos", "/People and places/Population groupings/Age groups/Children/Adolescents" ], [ "plos", "/People and places/Population groupings/Families/Children/Adolescents" ], [ "plos", "/Research and analysis methods/Research design/Survey research/Questionnaires" ], [ "plos", "/Social sciences/Psychology/Psychometrics" ] ], "openalex": "W7223347530", "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0007513&type=printable", "pmcid": "PMC13693922", "pmid": "42912777", "published": "2026-10-23", "publisher": "Public Library of Science", "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/69zjgrxxjag5f.ris", "sources": [ { "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:17Z", "native_id": "10.1371/journal.pgph.0007513", "source": "plos", "url": "https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0007513" }, { "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:20:03Z", "native_id": "MED:42912777", "source": "europepmc", "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42912777" } ], "subjects": [ { "field": "medicine", "origin": "plos:mental health and psychiatry", "subfield": "psychiatry" } ], "title": "The science of child and adolescent mental health in Mozambique: A systematic review of prevalence estimates, measurement tools, and interventions", "title_text": "The science of child and adolescent mental health in Mozambique: A systematic review of prevalence estimates, measurement tools, and interventions", "type": "peer-reviewed", "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:20:03Z", "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/69zjgrxxjag5f", "venue": "PLOS Global Public Health", "versions": [] }