Global Research on Syndemics: a Meta-knowledge Analysis (2001-2020)

Overview

Journal F1000Res

Specialties Biomedical Engineering
Science

Date 2023 Mar 21

PMID 36936050

Authors

Md Mahbub Hossain

Nobonita Saha

Tahmina Tasnim Rodela

Samia Tasnim

Tasmiah Nuzhath

Tamal Joyti Roy

James N Burdine

Helal Uddin Ahmed

E Lisako J McKyer

Banga Kamal Basu

Ping Ma

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Syndemics or synergies of cooccurring epidemics are widely studied across health and social sciences in recent years.

Methods: We conducted a meta-knowledge analysis of articles published between 2001 to 2020 in this growing field of academic scholarship.

Results: We found a total of 830 articles authored by 3025 authors, mostly from high-income countries. Publications on syndemics are gradually increasing since 2003, with rapid development in 2013. Each article was cited more than 15 times on average, and most (n = 604) articles were original studies. Syndemics research focused on several areas, including HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, mental health, gender minority stressors, racism, violence, chronic physical and mental disorders, food insecurity, social determinants of health, and coronavirus disease 2019. Moreover, biopsychosocial interactions between multiple health problems were studied across medical, anthropological, public health, and other disciplines of science.

Conclusions: The limited yet rapidly evolving literature on syndemics informs transdisciplinary interests to understand complex coexisting health challenges in the context of systematic exclusion and structural violence in vulnerable populations. The findings also suggest applications of syndemic theory to evaluate clinical and public health problems, examine the socioecological dynamics of factors influencing health and wellbeing, and use the insights to alleviate health inequities in the intersections of synergistic epidemics and persistent contextual challenges for population health.

Citing Articles

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Gilcrease W, Manfredi L, Sciascia S, Ricceri F Rheumatol Ther. 2024; 12(1):1-24.

PMID: 39602050 PMC: 11751258. DOI: 10.1007/s40744-024-00724-8.

Qualitative study exploring parenting among mothers and female caregivers living with the IPV, mental health and HIV syndemic in South Africa.

Silima M, Christofides N, Franchino-Olsen H, Woollett N, Meinck F BMJ Open. 2024; 14(10):e086478.

PMID: 39477279 PMC: 11529702. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-086478.

Syndemics in women's health: poverty, social exclusion, and clustering of thrombotic and hemostasis disorders.

ORourke E, Kelliher S, Kevane B Res Pract Thromb Haemost. 2024; 8(5):102481.

PMID: 39109235 PMC: 11301153. DOI: 10.1016/j.rpth.2024.102481.

Conceptualizing COVID-19 syndemics: A scoping review.

Bulled N, Singer M J Multimorb Comorb. 2024; 14:26335565241249835.

PMID: 38682155 PMC: 11055430. DOI: 10.1177/26335565241249835.

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Chandru B, Varma R Int J Equity Health. 2023; 22(1):176.

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