Economic Precariousness, Racialized Gender Inequality, and Child Mental Health Outcomes in Kenya: A systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Background & research problem: Socioeconomic factors, such as economic precariousness and racialized or ethnicized gender inequalities, have a major impact on children's mental health in Kenya, especially in marginalized communities. Children's mental health challenges are exacerbated by economic instability and structural inequalities, which can result in behavioural disorders, anxiety, and depression. Despite increased awareness of the emerging concerns of mental health among children, barriers such as stigma, financial constraints, and poor infrastructure continue to limit access to care. This systematic review aimed to examine the relationship between child mental health and economic precariousness, evaluate the effect of racial and ethnic gender inequality on mental health outcomes, and investigate barriers to mental health care access.
Results: The findings showed that economic instability causes long-term stress and negative mental health outcomes in children. Furthermore, children from marginalized communities are disproportionately affected by gendered and ethnic disparities, with girls particularly being more affected. Discrimination, limited services in remote locations, and financial challenges are common barriers to accessing mental health care, leading to untreated cases.
Conclusions & recommendations: The study concludes that tackling child mental health issues calls for expanding access to mental health services, promoting equity, and reducing poverty. Enhancing social protection programs, encouraging gender parity through education, and incorporating mental health services into basic healthcare are some of the recommendations by this review. These measures are crucial to enhancing mental health outcomes of children in Kenya.