Paper Title
PREVALENCE OF COMMON MENTAL ILLNESS AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG HAWASSA CITY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, HAWASSA, SIDAMA REGION, ETHIOPIA

Abstract
Abstract – Introduction: Common mental illness is a group of mental illnesses that include depression, anxiety, and somatoform disorders. World Health Organization (WHO) reported that common mental illness contributed for 30% of non-fatal disease burden worldwide. School going adolescents and youths have a higher prevalence than people in general. However, there is limited school based studies on adolescent mental health in developing countries like Ethiopia, particularly in Hawassa city, Southern Ethiopia. Objectives: To assess the prevalence of common mental illness and its associated factors among secondary school students in Hawassa City, Southern Ethiopia, 2020. Methods: Institution based cross-sectional study conducted between November and December 2020. Multistage sampling technique employed to select 634 students. Data were collected using a pretested and structured self-administered questionnaire and Self-Reported Questionnaire (SRQ-20) was used to measure common mental illness. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with common mental illness, and adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was used to measure the magnitude of the association. Result: The prevalence of common mental illness was 20.7%. After adjusting for other variables age 15-19 years [AOR=0.51, 95% CI: (0.27, 0.97)], female sex [AOR=1.79, 95% CI: (1.10, 2.39)], grade 9 [AOR=0.41, 95% CI: (0.22, 0.76)], grade 10 [AOR=0.46, 95% CI: (0.23, 0.82)], chew khat currently [AOR=2.46, 95% CI: (1.07, 5.65)], poor social support [AOR=2.34, 95% CI: (1.27, 4.32)] and having medical illness [AOR=3.16, 95% CI: (1.64, 6.09)] were independent predictors of common mental illness. Conclusion: The prevalence of common mental illness among high school students in the study area is high. Older age, female sex, higher grade, khat chewing, poor social support and having medical illness were risk factors for common mental illness. Guidance and counseling for high graders and females, strengthening student club (anti-drug) and improving student, parent and teachers communication were recommended. Keywords - Common Mental Illness, Social Support, School Belongingness