The association between sexual violence and mental disorders among women victim-survivors in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Background Sexual violence is a serious public health and human rights problem with both short-term and long-term consequences. This review aims to systematically assess the link between sexual violence and poor mental health among sub-Saharan African women. Methods Systematic review and meta-analyses of observational studies were performed. MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Cochrane, Global Health and the University of Melbourne library electronic databases were used to find relevant published literature over 12 years from 2012 to 2024 in sub-Saharan Africa with stringent eligibility criteria. Random effects meta-analyses were used to pool estimates of ORs and 95% CIs. The I2 statistic was..