Depression, Anxiety, and Stress among Sudanese Medical Students during the COVID-19 Lockdown Period

Osama Gamal Nubi Mohamed; Esraa Gamal Nubi Mohamed; Rawan Ahmed; Lena Aburas; Mohamed Ali; Hamdan Zaki Hamdan

doi:10.3889/oamjms.2022.9432

Authors

Osama Gamal Nubi Mohamed Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Neelain University, Khartoum, Sudan https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9276-024X
Esraa Gamal Nubi Mohamed Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, National University, Khartoum, Sudan
Rawan Ahmed Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Neelain University, Khartoum, Sudan https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0654-4271
Lena Aburas Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medical Sciences and Technology (UMST), Khartoum, Sudan https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2916-3140
Mohamed Ali Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Neelain University, Khartoum, Sudan https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9645-0177
Hamdan Zaki Hamdan Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Unaizah College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Unaizah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Al-Neelain University, Khartoum, Sudan https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9269-8239

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2022.9432

Keywords:

Anxiety, COVID-19, DASS-21, Depression, Medical students, Stress, Sudan

Abstract

Background: The novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has imposed a compulsory lockdown that has led to the emergence of various type of psychological distress among medical students. This study aimed to identify the determinants and the levels of depression, anxiety and stress among Sudanese medical students during the COVID-19 lockdown period.

Methods: A web-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April to July 2020. The data were collected using a questionnaire that contained two sections – sociodemographic items and the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS-21).

Results: A total of 1,058 students responded and completed the questionnaire. The study sample consisted of 604 (57.1%) females, and the rest were males. The students attending a public university comprised the majority (n = 632 or 59.7%). Many of the respondents were at the pre-clinical phase of their studies (n = 572 or 54.1%). Approximately 81.6% of all participants reported symptoms of psychological distress. The prevalence rates of depression, anxiety and stress were 75%, 55.3% and 51.8%, respectively. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that depression was significantly associated with the female gender (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.22‒2.16) and students at the pre-clinical phase (AOR = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.24‒2.20). Anxiety was significantly associated with the female gender (AOR = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.35‒2.22) and studying at a private university (AOR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.05‒1.76). Stress was significantly associated with the female gender (AOR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.07‒1.74) and students at the pre-clinical phase (AOR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.12‒1.83).

Conclusions: Logistic regression analysis showed that female students at the pre-clinical phase had an increased risk of depression and stress. Female students attending a private university had an increased risk of anxiety. Depression, anxiety and stress were highly prevalent among Sudanese medical students.

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