Mental health problems among secondary school students 10-24 years in Kilimanjaro region, Northern Tanzania
Shirima, Jackline T. ; Ngocho, James Samwel ; Mhando, Lisbeth ; Mavura, Rehema A. and Mboya, Innocent B. LU
(2025)
In African Health Sciences
25(4).
p.191-200
- Abstract
Background: Three-quarters of all mental health problems begins between 10-24 years. When not treated, adolescents and young people with mental health problems are at high risk of abuse, suicide, and substance use, which have long-term consequences that negatively impact physical, and economic productivity. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of mental health problems among secondary school students 10-24 years in the Kilimanjaro region, northern Tanzania. Methodology: We utilized secondary data from two repeated cross-sectional surveys conducted in 2019 and 2022 among students aged 10-24 years in the Kilimanjaro region, northern Tanzania. A chi-square test was used to compare mental health problem proportions by survey year and... (More)
Background: Three-quarters of all mental health problems begins between 10-24 years. When not treated, adolescents and young people with mental health problems are at high risk of abuse, suicide, and substance use, which have long-term consequences that negatively impact physical, and economic productivity. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of mental health problems among secondary school students 10-24 years in the Kilimanjaro region, northern Tanzania. Methodology: We utilized secondary data from two repeated cross-sectional surveys conducted in 2019 and 2022 among students aged 10-24 years in the Kilimanjaro region, northern Tanzania. A chi-square test was used to compare mental health problem proportions by survey year and other participant characteristics. Multivariable logistic regression estimated odds ratios and 95% confidence interval to determine factors associated with mental health problems. Results: The median age of 4955 study participants was 15 (14, 17), 64% were 15-19 years, 53.9% were females, and 65% participated in survey 1. The overall prevalence of mental health problems was 29.2% (survey 1; 27.4% and survey 2; 32.6%). Overall, higher odds of mental health problems were among students aged 20-24 years than those aged 10-14 years, among females, currently using any substances, ever had sex, ever been physically attacked, ever been bullied, and those ever-missed classes. Conclusion: Mental health problems are highly prevalent among secondary school adolescents and young people in the Kilimanjaro region and were common among those aged 20-24 years, females, final year students, current substance users, history of having sex, ever missed classes, and being bullied. In-school programs for mental health issues awareness among students should be improved.
(Less)
- author
- Shirima, Jackline T.
; Ngocho, James Samwel
; Mhando, Lisbeth
; Mavura, Rehema A.
and Mboya, Innocent B.
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025-12-05
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- adolescents, Global School-based Student Health Survey, Kilimanjaro, mental health problems, Regional Schoolbased Student Health Survey, Tanzania, young people
- in
- African Health Sciences
- volume
- 25
- issue
- 4
- pages
- 10 pages
- publisher
- Makerere University, Medical School
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:41669133
- scopus:105027379133
- ISSN
- 1680-6905
- DOI
- 10.4314/ahs.v25i4.20
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- Publisher Copyright: © 2025 Shirima JT et al.
- id
- 871977e9-6f28-40c8-b3bf-54064cf6abaf
- date added to LUP
- 2026-02-11 17:04:53
- date last changed
- 2026-02-12 03:00:04
@article{871977e9-6f28-40c8-b3bf-54064cf6abaf,
abstract = {{<p>Background: Three-quarters of all mental health problems begins between 10-24 years. When not treated, adolescents and young people with mental health problems are at high risk of abuse, suicide, and substance use, which have long-term consequences that negatively impact physical, and economic productivity. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of mental health problems among secondary school students 10-24 years in the Kilimanjaro region, northern Tanzania. Methodology: We utilized secondary data from two repeated cross-sectional surveys conducted in 2019 and 2022 among students aged 10-24 years in the Kilimanjaro region, northern Tanzania. A chi-square test was used to compare mental health problem proportions by survey year and other participant characteristics. Multivariable logistic regression estimated odds ratios and 95% confidence interval to determine factors associated with mental health problems. Results: The median age of 4955 study participants was 15 (14, 17), 64% were 15-19 years, 53.9% were females, and 65% participated in survey 1. The overall prevalence of mental health problems was 29.2% (survey 1; 27.4% and survey 2; 32.6%). Overall, higher odds of mental health problems were among students aged 20-24 years than those aged 10-14 years, among females, currently using any substances, ever had sex, ever been physically attacked, ever been bullied, and those ever-missed classes. Conclusion: Mental health problems are highly prevalent among secondary school adolescents and young people in the Kilimanjaro region and were common among those aged 20-24 years, females, final year students, current substance users, history of having sex, ever missed classes, and being bullied. In-school programs for mental health issues awareness among students should be improved.</p>}},
author = {{Shirima, Jackline T. and Ngocho, James Samwel and Mhando, Lisbeth and Mavura, Rehema A. and Mboya, Innocent B.}},
issn = {{1680-6905}},
keywords = {{adolescents; Global School-based Student Health Survey; Kilimanjaro; mental health problems; Regional Schoolbased Student Health Survey; Tanzania; young people}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{12}},
number = {{4}},
pages = {{191--200}},
publisher = {{Makerere University, Medical School}},
series = {{African Health Sciences}},
title = {{Mental health problems among secondary school students 10-24 years in Kilimanjaro region, Northern Tanzania}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v25i4.20}},
doi = {{10.4314/ahs.v25i4.20}},
volume = {{25}},
year = {{2025}},
}