Abstract:
Background: Mental distress is becoming a common health problem among university students
globally. Empirical findings have confirmed that the student population does have a higher
prevalence of mental disorder than is found in the general population.
Objective: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of mental distress and associated
factors among the undergraduate students at University of Hargeisa, Somaliland in 2013.
Method: An institution based cross-sectional study was conducted among a sample of 600 under
graduate students at the University of Hargeisa from October 1 to 30, 2013. Study subjects were
selected using stratified random sampling. The Self Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) was used
to assess mental distress. Data was analyzed using by SPSS version 16 for windows. Bivariate
logistic regression was done to explore factors associated with mental distress and find out
candidate variables for the multivariate logistic regression. Multivariate logistic regression was
conducted to identify predictors of mental distress.
Results: The point prevalence of mental distress was found to be 19.8%. Female students were
at higher risk of having mental distress than male students {AOR= 2.78; 95% CI (1.69, 4.55)}.
Students who had monthly income of up to $100 were at higher risk of mental distress than those
who had greater than $100{AOR=1.96; 95% CI (1.15, 3.35)}. Students who did not have
satisfying relationship with their friends were at higher risk of mental distress than students who
had satisfying relationship with their friends {AOR= 2.55, 95%CI (1.12, (5.79)}.
Conclusions: The prevalence rate of mental distress among the regular under-graduate students
at UoH was found to be 19.8%. Female gender, low monthly income and unsatisfying
relationship with friends were the contributing factors for mental distress among the students of
UoH in this study. Recommendations are given to those involved accordingly. To UoH
administration, to create mechanisms students can interact positively together, establish student
advisory system and create student mental health clinic. To the Researchers is recommended to
further study this topic with different and validated instrument and lastly to the ministry of health
to integrate mental health care services to the university students.
