Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Among Adolescents and Young Adults in Africa: A Multi-Method Systematic Review

Available reviews of the literature have failed to adequately address research on non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) that has been conducted in developing countries, with the aim of this study being to systematically review empirical research on NSSI that has been conducted among adolescents and young adults living in countries located on the African continent. Guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for mixed methods systematic reviews, searches were conducted in six databases—PubMed, Scopus, PsychINFO, African Journals Online, African Index Medicus, and Sabinet African Journals—with searches being conducted from inception to 31 December 2024. These searches identified 33 unique records published in peer-reviewed journals or presented in postgraduate theses during the period 1985 to 2024; with the process of data synthesis identifying three broad analytic themes: the nature of NSSI, risk/protective factors associated with NSSI engagement, and the functions of NSSI. Key findings in relation to these themes: (1) highlight the value of an ethnomedical perspective in cross-cultural research on NSSI, and (2) suggest that the conventional focus on intrapersonal and proximal interpersonal influences on NSSI (in relation to both risk/resilience and NSSI functions) could usefully be extended to include influences emanating from the broader sociocultural context in which individuals are embedded. These findings are discussed in terms of their implications for future research.