A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Depression Prevalence Among Low-Income African American Women in the United States

Objective: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies reporting the prevalence of depression among low-income African American women and moderators that might influence the effect. Method: The search for studies was supported by an academic librarian through 2021. After data extraction and methodological appraisal, we performed data analysis using the meta and metafor packages in R. The random-effects model accounted for both between and within studies’ variances. Results: The search process produced 59 included studies with 57,357 participants. The point prevalence of depression was 36.6% (95% CI [31.0, 42.2]) across self-report studies and 29.5% (95% CI [25.8, 33.4]) for clinician-derived diagnoses. Conclusions: Depression affects more than a third of African American women. When women have additional risk factors—such as comorbid health problems, intimate partner violence, and unemployment—they are at greater risk for depression. Given high prevalence rates of depression, future research should focus on culturally adapted screening and interventions that best support desirable outcomes. Treatment protocols must include cultural sensitivity and understanding of the social factors that low-income African American women may face, including systemic barriers.