<p>The Psychological Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic Among University Students in Bench-Sheko Zone, South-west Ethiopia: A Community-based Cross-sectional Study</p>

Abstract

Background: Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause a wide range of illness from the common cold to more severe diseases. The COVID-19 pandemic is a public emergency of international concern that affects several nations. The widespread outbreak of COVID-19 virus has brought not only the risk of death but also major psychological pressure. However, the psychological impact on university students has not been studied in Ethiopia. Objective: To assess the psychological impacts of COVID-19 pandemic among university students in Bench-Sheko Zone, Southwest , Ethiopia, 2020. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from May 15 to June 15/2020. A systematic sampling technique was employed to select the study participants. The data were entered into EpiData 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 24 for analysis. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression were used to identify candidates and independent factors respectively. Independent factors of depression, anxiety, and stress were assessed using AORs with 95% confidence level at P-value <0.05 cut point. Results: Three hundred and twenty-two university students were included with a 97.5% response rate. The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress was 21.2%, 27.7%, and 32.5%, respectively. Being female, staying at home, history of medical illness, and poor and moderate social support increased the risk of depression. Not living with their parents, relatives got coronavirus and low family income were risk factors for anxiety. Moreover, substance use, depression, anxiety, and poor social support were increasing the risk of stress among university students. Conclusions and Recommendations: This study revealed a higher prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among university students. Thus, governments and policy makers should develop health system strategies to provide crisis-oriented psychological services for university students to minimize the mental health impact of the outbreak.

The Psychological Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Graduating Class Students at the University of Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia

“…The graduating students who worried about family members who could be infected were more likely to develop anxiety in comparison with their counterparts. This finding was supported by studies conducted in Bench-Sheko Zone, South-west Ethiopia, 14 and Guangzhou, China. 20 This might be due to the greatest fear of students resulted from the possibility of infecting family members during the pandemic.…”

“…The prevalence of anxiety in this study was 39.6%. This finding was higher than studies conducted in Bench-Sheko Zone, southwest Ethiopia; 27.7%, 14 China 24.9%, 16 Chinese university students; 15.43%, 19 another study in China; 7.7%, 20 and Spain; 21.34%. 22 This discrepancy might be due to poor socioeconomic status in Ethiopia which determines the body defense mechanism of preventing coronavirus infection, in developing countries as compared to a developed country like China.…”

“…This finding was lower than studies conducted in Bench-Sheko Zone, South-west Ethiopia (32.5%), Dessie town, Ethiopia (48.5%), United States (71%), China (67.1%), Spain (28.1%), Canada (30%), and Malaysia (28.9%). 14 , 15 , 18 , 21–23 , 25 The possible justification for the lower prevalence of stress in this study might be due to the difference in time of the study. Currently, students can get a variety of information regarding the virus than the information they obtained at the beginning of the pandemic.…”

“…The sample size was calculated using the single population proportion formula by taking the estimated proportion of depression, anxiety, and stress among graduating class students: 21.2%, 27.7%, and 32.5%, respectively from a study conducted in southwest Ethiopia, 14 95% confidence interval, and a 5% margin of error and the largest number was taken. The final sample size was 350 after using the correction formula and adding a 10% non-response rate.…”

“… 13 In Ethiopia, two studies reported that the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress was 21.2% and 77.2%, 27.7% and 71.8%, and 32.5% and 48.5% respectively. 14 , 15 Kinds of literature also indicated that age, sex, history of medical illness, living in a State/Region with a high incidence of COVID-19, family income, having family members infected with the disease, the practice of preventive measures, and residence were determinants of depression, anxiety, and stress. 10 , 12 , 14 , 15 …”