Adverse childhood experiences among people with schizophrenia at comprehensive specialized hospitals in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia: a comparative study

BackgroundPeople who have encountered adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are predisposed to developing schizophrenia, experiencing exacerbated symptoms, and facing an elevated risk of disease relapse. It is imperative to evaluate the prevalence of ACEs to comprehend the specific attributes of this condition and enable the implementation of suitable interventions.AimsThe aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of ACEs and its determinants among people with schizophrenia and the patient attendants in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.MethodA comparative cross-sectional study was carried out at the Comprehensive Specialized Hospitals in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, from April 26 to June 10, 2023. A total of 291 individuals with schizophrenia and 293 individuals from the patient attendants were selected using a systematic random sampling method. A proportional odds model ordinal logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors associated with ACEs.ResultsThe occurrence of at least one ACE among individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia was 69.4%, while patient attendants had a 46.8%, as indicated by the Chi-square test, which showed a significant difference at p <0.05. The study findings indicated that individuals with schizophrenia who have encountered four or more ACEs are more inclined to have lower educational attainment (AOR: 4.69 [1.94 - 11.61]), low resilient coping mechanisms (AOR: 2.07 [1.11 - 3.90]), and poor social support (AOR: 3.93 [2.13 - 7.32]). Conversely, factors such as rural residency, illiteracy, and heightened attachment-related anxiety were found to be notably associated with the patient attendants.ConclusionIn this study, the substantial prevalence of ACEs emphasized the necessity for ACE screening and the implementation of evidence-based interventions to address and alleviate the overall burden of ACEs

Common Mental Disorder and Its Associated Factors among Prisoners in North Wollo Zone Correctional Institutions, Northeastern Ethiopia

Background. Globally, about 450 million people suffer from mental disorders of which about 11% are assumed to be prisoners. The presence of mental illness among prisoners contributes to an increase in the risk of suicide, violence, morbidity, and mortality. In Ethiopia, there is a paucity of data particularly from resource-limited areas to assist policy maker’s efforts in reforming mental health care. Objective. This study is aimed at assessing common mental disorders and its associated factors among prisoners in North Wollo zone correctional institutions, Northeastern Ethiopia. Method. Institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 401 study participants from January–February 2021. A simple random sampling technique was employed to enroll the study participants. Structured interviewer-administered Self Reporting Questionnaires-20 (SRQ-20) developed by the World Health Organization was used to collect the data. Data were checked for completeness, coded and entered into Epi data version 4.2, and transferred to SPSS version 23.0 for final analysis. Binary logistic regression analysis was carried out to identify factors associated with common mental disorders. Statistical significance was declared at p values < 0.05 in the final model. Results. The prevalence of common mental disorders was found to be 63.6% (95% CI 58.9, 68.3). After adjusting for confounding factors using multiple logistic regression, having children (AOR=3.7, 95% CI: 1.93, 7.36), poor social support (AOR=6.6, 95% CI: 2.93, 14.93), history of mental illness (AOR=6.5, 95% CI: 1.78, 24.3), one- to five-year prison stay (AOR=2.6, 95% CI: 1.38, 5.04), greater than five-year prison stay (AOR=5.7, 95% CI: 2.05, 16.27), experiencing one stressful life event (AOR=5.2, 95% CI: 1.83, 15.01), experiencing two or more stressful life events (AOR=7.3, 95% CI: 2.98, 17.9), unavailability of reading materials (AOR=4.3, 95% CI: 1.63, 11.43), and greater than or equal to eleven years of sentences (AOR=4.4, 95 CI: 1.82, 10.70) were factors significantly associated with common mental disorders. Conclusion. Common mental disorders are highly prevalent among prisoners in this study area. The result of this study suggests the importance of screening and providing psychiatric counseling to this highly vulnerable population