Prevalence of mental distress and associated factors among undergratuate students at university of hargeisa somaliland

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.