Systematic Review of the Literature on the Psychosocial Impacts of Ebola Virus Disease on West Africans Who Survived the Epidemic
Sulaiman L Mandoh *
School of Nursing, Paramedicine & Healthcare Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, Australia.
Phillip T Bwititi
School of Dentistry & Biomedical Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, Australia.
Ezekiel U Nwose
School of Health & Medical Sciences, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This scoping review examines the psychosocial impacts of the 2014-16 Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) epidemic on West African populations, focusing on trauma, social support, and coping mechanisms. Using systematic database searches across multiple databases and appraisals with the McMaster tool. 24 studies were included. The findings indicate that EVD survivors experienced significant psychosocial distress with limited access to government support and mixed coping strategies. This review highlights critical gaps in mental health resources for epidemic survivors and calls for further research to inform support strategies in future health crises. West Africans psychosocially impacted from the EVD trauma lacked government support. Coping strategies appear to be mixed but the paucity of literature that addressed this phenomenon of interest raises concern and calls for further studies.
Keywords: Psychosocial Impact, ebola virus, epidemic, West Africa