Background: Multiple factors shape health and mental well-being. These factors are considered indicators for a holistic assessment of well-being. Analysing existing literature on health and mental well-being indicators to support a comprehensive evaluation within the sub-Saharan African context is necessary to assess and improve the population’s health and mental well-being.
Methods: This study is a literature review carried out by adapting the POWER framework while leveraging the Web of Science (WoS) database, which was complemented with random Google-led searches. Leveraging the POWER framework, this paper reviewed related literature on mental health and well-being, based on which a framework for action was reached.
Results: Going through the planning, writing and reflection phases of the POWER framework, the WoS database search produced 22 pieces of literature published in South Africa from 2014 to 2022 and 5 pieces of literature published in Nigeria from 2019 to 2022, with 26 manuscripts across higher institutions in South Africa and eight manuscripts with various organisations. The study revealed abilities to realise potential, cope with the everyday stresses of life, work productively and fruitfully, and meaningful community engagement as some of the crucial mental health indicators. The reviewed literature revealed that mental well-being as a multi-phased construct is fast gaining attention in sub-Saharan African contexts.
Conclusion: This study concluded that mental health and well-being assessment has multiple indicators primarily deployed linearly using Western-developed or validated assessment instruments. Therefore, an adaptive health and mental well-being assessment with a more accurate assessment capacity should be developed as an illness prevention intervention approached transdisciplinary.
Keywords: Transdisciplinary science, Health, Mental well-being Indicators, Mental well-being Assessment, Sub-Saharan Africa
Citation: Oladele J I, Guse T, Owolabi H O. A Literature Review of Health and Mental Well-being Indicators and its Assessment in Sub-Saharan Africa (2014-2022). J Research Health 2024; 14 (2) :3-3
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