“Space to see the future”? A political economy analysis of child and adolescent mental health and well-being in Ethiopia including routes for change
BackgroundEthiopia faces significant mental health challenges; mental disorders are the leading non-communicable condition, and many adults experience symptoms by age 14–15. We examined structural, institutional, and agentic factors affecting child and adolescent mental well-being in Ethiopia. The a...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-02-01
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| author | Kibur Engdawork Kibur Engdawork Kibur Engdawork Lucia D’Ambruoso Lucia D’Ambruoso Lucia D’Ambruoso Lucia D’Ambruoso Lucia D’Ambruoso Lucia D’Ambruoso Tsion Hailu Tsion Hailu Tsion Hailu Mahlet Yared Mahlet Yared Girma M. Geletu Girma M. Geletu Semere G. Baraki Semere G. Baraki Elias Sebsibe Pamela Abbott |
| author_facet | Kibur Engdawork Kibur Engdawork Kibur Engdawork Lucia D’Ambruoso Lucia D’Ambruoso Lucia D’Ambruoso Lucia D’Ambruoso Lucia D’Ambruoso Lucia D’Ambruoso Tsion Hailu Tsion Hailu Tsion Hailu Mahlet Yared Mahlet Yared Girma M. Geletu Girma M. Geletu Semere G. Baraki Semere G. Baraki Elias Sebsibe Pamela Abbott |
| author_sort | Kibur Engdawork |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundEthiopia faces significant mental health challenges; mental disorders are the leading non-communicable condition, and many adults experience symptoms by age 14–15. We examined structural, institutional, and agentic factors affecting child and adolescent mental well-being in Ethiopia. The aims were to describe the political, economic, social and policy contexts in which mental well-being exists; analysing power, interests, and the influence and resources key stakeholders bring to bear on decision-making processes related to child and adolescent well-being.MethodsWe used a Political Economy Analysis framework to identify structural and institutional features, networks of influence, and routes for change. Using this lens, a literature review was performed, supplemented with key informant interviews (n = 9).ResultsMultiple structural drivers of mental health problems were identified: globalized urbanization and social fragmentation, and political and economic systems characterized by economic ambition but entrenched poverty, aid dependency, conflict and civil war. Despite significant policy recognition and support, there was poor coordination between federal and regional structures and sectors, vastly insufficient resources, and low coverage especially in rural areas. Service delivery was further complicated by widespread and normalised violence against children and young people, low knowledge and awareness among children and families, entrenched stigma and gender inequities, and ethnic tensions, conflict and displacement. Overall, regional resource shortages drastically limited the collective agencies of service users and providers. Meanwhile, development programmes lack context and coordination. The analysis emphasizes an urgent need to enhance implementation support through targeted, contextually relevant mental health policies and programmes, and institutional expansion of spaces and processes for multisectoral working, especially between health and education. Development partners should align with statutory bodies as a mechanism to harmonise and contextualise.ConclusionThe government’s tendency to formulate national programs and strategies is positive, but lack of regional funding and support limit effectiveness. Schools and healthcare environments can play powerful roles supporting mental health, however, experience considerable challenges related to resourcing, and lack spaces and processes for multisectoral working. There is a pressing need to resource and support implementation and collaboration capabilities of the school community and healthcare sector to promote mental wellbeing and provide culturally engaged services. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-67b2a0564a294f2485ce8e2169dc8c05 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2297-7775 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Sociology |
| spelling | doaj-art-67b2a0564a294f2485ce8e2169dc8c052025-02-06T07:09:20ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sociology2297-77752025-02-01910.3389/fsoc.2024.14886191488619“Space to see the future”? A political economy analysis of child and adolescent mental health and well-being in Ethiopia including routes for changeKibur Engdawork0Kibur Engdawork1Kibur Engdawork2Lucia D’Ambruoso3Lucia D’Ambruoso4Lucia D’Ambruoso5Lucia D’Ambruoso6Lucia D’Ambruoso7Lucia D’Ambruoso8Tsion Hailu9Tsion Hailu10Tsion Hailu11Mahlet Yared12Mahlet Yared13Girma M. Geletu14Girma M. Geletu15Semere G. Baraki16Semere G. Baraki17Elias Sebsibe18Pamela Abbott19College of Social Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaCollege of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaCentre for Global Development, School of Education, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United KingdomCentre for Global Development, School of Education, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United KingdomAberdeen Centre for Health Data Science, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United KingdomDepartment of Epidemiology and Global Health, Umeå University, Umeå, SwedenMRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South AfricaDepartment of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South AfricaPublic Health, National Health Service (NHS) Grampian, Aberdeen, United KingdomCollege of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaCentre for Global Development, School of Education, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United KingdomDilchora Referral Hospital, Dire Dawa, EthiopiaCollege of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaCentre for Global Development, School of Education, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United KingdomCollege of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaCentre for Global Development, School of Education, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United KingdomCollege of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaCentre for Global Development, School of Education, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United KingdomCollege of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaCentre for Global Development, School of Education, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United KingdomBackgroundEthiopia faces significant mental health challenges; mental disorders are the leading non-communicable condition, and many adults experience symptoms by age 14–15. We examined structural, institutional, and agentic factors affecting child and adolescent mental well-being in Ethiopia. The aims were to describe the political, economic, social and policy contexts in which mental well-being exists; analysing power, interests, and the influence and resources key stakeholders bring to bear on decision-making processes related to child and adolescent well-being.MethodsWe used a Political Economy Analysis framework to identify structural and institutional features, networks of influence, and routes for change. Using this lens, a literature review was performed, supplemented with key informant interviews (n = 9).ResultsMultiple structural drivers of mental health problems were identified: globalized urbanization and social fragmentation, and political and economic systems characterized by economic ambition but entrenched poverty, aid dependency, conflict and civil war. Despite significant policy recognition and support, there was poor coordination between federal and regional structures and sectors, vastly insufficient resources, and low coverage especially in rural areas. Service delivery was further complicated by widespread and normalised violence against children and young people, low knowledge and awareness among children and families, entrenched stigma and gender inequities, and ethnic tensions, conflict and displacement. Overall, regional resource shortages drastically limited the collective agencies of service users and providers. Meanwhile, development programmes lack context and coordination. The analysis emphasizes an urgent need to enhance implementation support through targeted, contextually relevant mental health policies and programmes, and institutional expansion of spaces and processes for multisectoral working, especially between health and education. Development partners should align with statutory bodies as a mechanism to harmonise and contextualise.ConclusionThe government’s tendency to formulate national programs and strategies is positive, but lack of regional funding and support limit effectiveness. Schools and healthcare environments can play powerful roles supporting mental health, however, experience considerable challenges related to resourcing, and lack spaces and processes for multisectoral working. There is a pressing need to resource and support implementation and collaboration capabilities of the school community and healthcare sector to promote mental wellbeing and provide culturally engaged services.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2024.1488619/fullchild and adolescent mental healthchild and adolescent mental well-beingEthiopiapolitical economy analysispolitical economy |
| spellingShingle | Kibur Engdawork Kibur Engdawork Kibur Engdawork Lucia D’Ambruoso Lucia D’Ambruoso Lucia D’Ambruoso Lucia D’Ambruoso Lucia D’Ambruoso Lucia D’Ambruoso Tsion Hailu Tsion Hailu Tsion Hailu Mahlet Yared Mahlet Yared Girma M. Geletu Girma M. Geletu Semere G. Baraki Semere G. Baraki Elias Sebsibe Pamela Abbott “Space to see the future”? A political economy analysis of child and adolescent mental health and well-being in Ethiopia including routes for change Frontiers in Sociology child and adolescent mental health child and adolescent mental well-being Ethiopia political economy analysis political economy |
| title | “Space to see the future”? A political economy analysis of child and adolescent mental health and well-being in Ethiopia including routes for change |
| title_full | “Space to see the future”? A political economy analysis of child and adolescent mental health and well-being in Ethiopia including routes for change |
| title_fullStr | “Space to see the future”? A political economy analysis of child and adolescent mental health and well-being in Ethiopia including routes for change |
| title_full_unstemmed | “Space to see the future”? A political economy analysis of child and adolescent mental health and well-being in Ethiopia including routes for change |
| title_short | “Space to see the future”? A political economy analysis of child and adolescent mental health and well-being in Ethiopia including routes for change |
| title_sort | space to see the future a political economy analysis of child and adolescent mental health and well being in ethiopia including routes for change |
| topic | child and adolescent mental health child and adolescent mental well-being Ethiopia political economy analysis political economy |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2024.1488619/full |
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