Depression among Prostate Cancer Patients in Africa: A Scoping Review

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Page: 1198-1203

Muhammad Hoque¹, Md Mostafizur Rahman², Sayma Akter Pata³, and Muhammad Akram Uzzaman⁴ (Department of Public Health, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South Africa¹, Industrial Organisational Psychology, Touro University, New York, USA², Anderson Centre for Autism, New York, USA³, Department of Psychology, Jagannath University, Dhaka, Bangladesh⁴)

Prostate cancer (PCa) constitutes one of the most common malignancies in men in Africa. While the physical consequences of the condition have been widely documented, there exists a significant dearth of emphasis on the mental consequences, most importantly, depression, which frequently develops synchronously with the diagnosis as well as with treatment strategies. The purpose of this scoping review is to outline the existing body of literature on the occurrence, determinants, and treatment of depression among PCa patients in African settings. A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted using databases like PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, African Journals Online (AJOL), and Google Scholar, with a focus on articles published between 2010 and 2024. Eligible studies were those that addressed depression in Pca patients in Africa, regardless of the study design. The review was guided by the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Fifteen studies carried out in nine African countries met the pre-established inclusion criteria. Prevalence of depression among PCa patients ranged from 12% to 60% and was highest among those with late stages of disease and poor access to mental health services. Treatment regimens, disease stages, stigma, cost burden, and poor psychosocial support accounted for depression prevalence. Prevention and intervention methods for decreasing depression have been investigated by various researchers, and it has been noted that there is a critical absence of integrated mental health services. It was concluded that depression is a common but under-researched comorbidity among PCa patients within the African setting. There is an urgent need for systematic provision of mental health screening and culturally responsive interventions and for greater integration into health systems to enhance patient outcomes.