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Peer-reviewedCC BYPLOS Global Public Health

The science of child and adolescent mental health in Mozambique: A systematic review of prevalence estimates, measurement tools, and interventions

  • Helena Mutede Cutótua Daniel1,2,3
  • Lauro Estivalete Marchionatti1,4,5
  • Jessica Azevedo Veronesi1,6,7
  • André Cardoso Campello1,6,7
  • Luis Augusto Rohde1,4,5,8,9
  • Caio Borba Casella1,6
  • Peter Raucci1
  • Afonso Mazine Tiago Fumo2,10,11
  • Jair Mari12
  • Giovanni Abrahão Salum1,4,5
  • Lidia Gouveia1,2,13
  • Zeina Mneimneh1,14
14 affiliations
  1. 1Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Global Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Child Mind Institute (CMI), New York, New York, United States of America.
  2. 2Department of Mental Health, Mozambique Ministry of Health, Maputo, Mozambique.
  3. 3Hospital Psiquiátrico de Nampula, Nampula, Mozambique.
  4. 4Programa de Pós Graduação em Psiquiatria e Ciências do Comportamento, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.
  5. 5Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, Brazil.
  6. 6Department of Psychiatry, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil.
  7. 7Instituto de Psiquiatria, Hospital das Clínicas de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
  8. 8Medical Council, Centro Universitário de Jaguariúna (UNIFAJ) and Centro Universitário Max Planck (UNIMAX), Jaguariúna and Indaiatuba, São Paulo, Brazil.
  9. 9National Institute of Developmental Psychiatry and National Center for Innovation and Research in Mental Health, São Paulo, Brazil.
  10. 10Department of Medicine, Beira Central Hospital, Beira, Mozambique.
  11. 11Faculty of Health Science, Catholic University of Mozambique, Beira, Mozambique.
  12. 12Department of Psychiatry and Department of Preventive Medicine, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
  13. 13Mozambique Institute for Health Education and Research (MIHER), Maputo, Mozambique.
  14. 14Center for Global Mental Health Equity, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America.
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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.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{daniel2026science,
  title = {{The science of child and adolescent mental health in Mozambique: A systematic review of prevalence estimates, measurement tools, and interventions}},
  author = {Helena Mutede Cutótua Daniel and Lauro Estivalete Marchionatti and Jessica Azevedo Veronesi and André Cardoso Campello and Luis Augusto Rohde and Caio Borba Casella and Peter Raucci and Afonso Mazine Tiago Fumo and Jair Mari and Giovanni Abrahão Salum and Lidia Gouveia and Zeina Mneimneh},
  journal = {PLOS Global Public Health},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1371/journal.pgph.0007513},
  url = {https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0007513},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - The science of child and adolescent mental health in Mozambique: A systematic review of prevalence estimates, measurement tools, and interventions
AU  - Helena Mutede Cutótua Daniel
AU  - Lauro Estivalete Marchionatti
AU  - Jessica Azevedo Veronesi
AU  - André Cardoso Campello
AU  - Luis Augusto Rohde
AU  - Caio Borba Casella
AU  - Peter Raucci
AU  - Afonso Mazine Tiago Fumo
AU  - Jair Mari
AU  - Giovanni Abrahão Salum
AU  - Lidia Gouveia
AU  - Zeina Mneimneh
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/23
JO  - PLOS Global Public Health
DO  - 10.1371/journal.pgph.0007513
UR  - https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0007513
AB  - 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.
SN  - 2767-3375
ER  -