The depression, anxiety, and stress and their sociodemographic correlates among undergraduate medical students of Arsi University, Southeast Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Young adulthood is often marked by beginning of studying in university, in which certain factors contribute to the development of stress and stress-related illness. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress and their sociodemographic correlates among undergraduate medical students of Arsi University. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 265 sampled medical students. Participants were selected by a systematic random sampling technique. Data were collected by a pretested, structured, and self-administrative questionnaire. Afterward, it was double entered into EpiData-3.1 and was analyzed by SPSS-21 software. Logistic regression analysis was employed and statistical significance was accepted at P < 0.05. RESULT: In the present study, five questionnaires were rejected for incompleteness, giving a response rate of 98.1%. Ages of respondents ranged between 18 and 27 years. Most respondents were male (63.1%), single in marital status (75.4%), living in campus (91.5%), had low monthly income (52.7%), from 6th year (20%), orthodox believers (50%), and Oromo in ethnic (53.9%). The current prevalence rates of depression, anxiety, and stress were 52.3%, 60.8%, and 40.4%, respectively. From all sociodemographic characteristics, depression was specifically associated with monthly income and residency. Moreover, anxiety was significantly associated with residency and educational level. Finally, stress was associated with monthly income, 2nd year educational level, and residency. CONCLUSION: Generally, overall prevalence rate of depression, anxiety, and stress is alarmingly high among Arsi University medical students. Therefore, implementing a structured orientation program with stress reduction interventions and establishing a student counseling center is highly recommended.