Abstract
Medical students are at risk of common mental disorders due to difficulties of adjustment to the medical school environment, exposure to death and human suffering. However there is limited data on this aspect. Therefore, the current study assessed the magnitude of common mental disorders and contributing factors among medical students. An institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted from May 12-16, 2015 using stratified sampling technique. Three hundred and five medical students participated in the study. Common mental disorders were assessed using the self-reported questionnaire (SRQ-20). Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with common mental disorders among students. Adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence interval were computed to determine the level of significance. Prevalence of common mental disorders among medical students was 35.2%. Being female, younger age, married, having less than 250 birr monthly pocket money, attending pre-clinical class, khat chewing, smoking cigarettes, alcohol drinking and ganja/shisha use were significantly associated with common mental disorders. The overall prevalence of common mental disorders among medical students was high. Therefore, it is essential to institute effective intervention strategies giving emphasis to contributing factors to common mental disorders.
Highlights
Medical students are at risk of common mental disorders due to difficulties of adjustment to the medical school environment, exposure to death and human suffering
In a study conducted among medical students of a private college in South Karnataka, South Western region of India similar Common mental disorders (CMD) prevalence rate (29.6%) was reported provided that the later used Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ)-20 cut off point of 9/1011.the prevalence of CMD in this study was higher than previous research findings done in Eastern Ethiopia, among Adama university undergraduate students (21.6%)[16]
The probable reason for the discrepancy could be that the current study focuses on medical students who deal with human health conditions in addition to academic work load while the previous study was on undergraduate students from all fields of study
Summary
Medical students are at risk of common mental disorders due to difficulties of adjustment to the medical school environment, exposure to death and human suffering. The current study assessed the magnitude of common mental disorders and contributing factors among medical students. Common mental disorders were assessed using the self-reported questionnaire (SRQ-20). Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with common mental disorders among students. Result: Prevalence of common mental disorders among medical students was 35.2%. Conclusion: The overall prevalence of common mental disorders among medical students was high. It is essential to institute effective intervention strategies giving emphasis to contributing factors to common mental disorders. Keyword: Common mental disorders, medical students, prevalence, Ethiopia. Common mental disorders among medical students in Jimma University, SouthWest Ethiopia.
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