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Cited by 94Mental Health Treatment and AccessStudent Stress and CopingHealthcare professionals’ stress and burnout

Mental distress among university students in Ethiopia: a cross sectional survey

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Dessie, Yadeta, Ebrahim, Jemal, Awoke, Tadesse·2013·Pan African Medical Journal
DOI 10.11604/pamj.2013.15.95.2173PMC PMC3810159
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Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Mental distress is becoming a common health problem among university students. There is limited information in this regard in Ethiopia. This study was aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of mental distress among students in Adama University. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in March2011. Four hundred and thirteen students were participated in the study. Simple random sampling technique was applied to select the study participants. Self-Reporting Questionnaire-20(SRQ-20) was used to assess the mental distress. Respondents who had a score of eleven and above on the SRQ-20 were considered as mentally distressed. RESULTS: The prevalence of mental distress was 21.6%. Family history of mental illness (AOR=2.30, 95%CI: 1.10 - 4.81), frequent conflicts with fellows (AOR=2.26, 95%CI: 1.10 - 4.85), Khat (Catha Edulis) chewing (AOR=2.23, 95% CI: 1.14 - 4.35) and not attending religious program regularly were factors associated with mental distress. Being in second year of their education less likely associated (AOR=0.41, 95%CI: 0.18 - 0.91) with mental distress. CONCLUSION: About one fifth of the students were found to be mentally distressed. Designing prevention sand treatments programs addressing the identified factors is important.

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Authors
Dessie, Y., Ebrahim, J., & Awoke, T.
Affiliations
  • Haramaya University (ET)
  • University of Gondar (ET)
Corresponding author
Ebrahim, Jemal
ORCID
Dessie, Yadeta
Venue
Pan African Medical Journal
Publisher
Pan African Medical Journal
Published
2013
Volume
15
Pages
95-95
ISSN
1937-8688 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.11604/pamj.2013.15.95.2173
PMC
PMC3810159
OpenAlex
W1971413033
Cited by
94
References
1
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 2
FWCI
3.00
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • Pan African Medical Journal (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • Adamas University
  • Adama Science and Technology University
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Student Stress and Coping
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout
Keywords
psychological distress, university students, prevalence, risk factors, family history of mental illness, peer conflict, khat chewing, khat, religious non-attendance, student mental health, Ethiopia
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Conflict, Psychological, Cross-Sectional Studies, Ethiopia, Female, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Surveys and Questionnaires, Stress, Psychological, Students, Universities, Prevalence, Catha, Young Adult

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