Abebaw Fekadu|Girmay Medhin|Medhin Selamu|Maji Hailemariam|Atalay Alem|Tedla W. Giorgis|Erica Breuer|Crick Lund|Martin Prince|Charlotte Hanlon
Population level mental distress in rural Ethiopia
Addis Ababa University|Addis Ababa University|Addis Ababa University|Addis Ababa University|Addis Ababa University|Federal Ministry of Health|University of Cape Town|University of Cape Town|King's College London|King's College London
part situational analysis research programme integration mental health care primary care programme improving mental health careprime conducted baseline study aimed determining broad indicators population level psychosocial distress predominantly rural community ethiopiathe study populationbased crosssectional survey 1497 adults selected multistage random sampling process population level psychosocial distress evaluated estimating magnitude common mental disorder symptoms cmd depressive anxiety somatic symptoms reaching level probable clinical significance harmful use alcohol suicidality psychosocial stressors experienced populationthe onemonth prevalence cmd mild moderate severe threshold levels 138 90 51 respectively respective onemonth prevalence suicidal ideation persistent suicidal ideation suicide attempt 135 38 18 hazardous use alcohol identified 224 significantly higher among men 334 compared women 113 stressful life events widespread 414 reporting least one threatening life event preceding six months similar proportion reported poor social support 408 stressful life events increasing age marital loss hazardous use alcohol associated cmd stressful life events marital loss lower educational status cmd associated suicidality cmd strongest factor associated suicidality eg 95 ci severe cmd 6091 2801 13248 strength association increased increase severity cmdindicators psychosocial distress prevalent rural community contrary former assumptions literature social support systems seem relatively weak stressful life events common interventions geared towards modifying general risk factors broader strategies promote mental wellbeing required