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April 30, 2026BMC Psychiatry1 citationsOpen Access

Drought Exposure and Mental Distress in Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Lesotho

Drought exposure and severe mental distress among adolescent girls and young women in Lesotho: the moderating role of food insecurity

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Authors

OBOlolade Julius BaruwaOSOluwaseyi Dolapo SomefunHGHlengiwe Gwebu

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Overview

Randomized trial examines drought and food insecurity’s impact on mental distress in Lesotho’s young women, suggesting crucial interventions.

Key Points

  • This study aims to explore the link between drought exposure and severe mental distress among adolescent girls and young women in Lesotho and the moderating role of food insecurity.
  • Analyzed data from 7,101 adolescent girls and young women aged 13–24 years from the 2018 Lesotho Violence Against Children and Youth Survey.
  • Used multivariable logistic regression models to assess the association between drought exposure, food insecurity, and severe mental distress.
  • Applied interaction terms to evaluate the moderating effect of food insecurity on the relationship between drought exposure and mental distress.
  • Drought exposure was associated with increased odds of severe mental distress (aOR = 1.47; 95% CI: 1.01–2.15; p = 0.045).
  • Food insecurity independently increased the odds of mental distress (aOR = 1.47; 95% CI: 1.06–2.05; p = 0.022).
  • The interaction model showed a heightened association between drought and severe mental distress among food-insecure households (interaction aOR = 2.21; 95% CI: 1.15–4.27; p = 0.018).

Cite This Study

Baruwa et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69f2f1771e5f7920c63872d3https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-026-08116-8
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