Infant Mental Health Research in Africa: a call for action for research in the next 10 years

Abstract

Background. Less than 3% of articles published in the peer reviewed literature include data from low- and middle-income countries – where 90% of the world's infants live. Methods. In this paper, we discuss the context of infancy in Africa and the conditions of adversity obtaining in Africa. Results. We discuss the implications of poverty on parenting, and linked to this outline the impact of maternal depression on infant development. Conclusions. We outline three features of the field of infant mental health research in Africa, and issue a call for action about what we believe is needed in order to develop the field in the next decade.

Keywords

• Africa
• call for action
• child development
• infant mental health