Background The number of persons infected with COVID-19 continues to increase with deaths reported daily across the globe. High income countries such as the US, the UK, Italy and Belgium have reported high COVID-19 related deaths but low-and-middle-income countries have recorded fewer deaths despite having poor healthcare system. This study aimed to investigate the association between malaria prevalence and COVID-19 mortality. Methods An ecological study was conducted with data from 195 countries. Spearman’s correlation was used to test the association between the population variables and COVID-19 mortality. Generalized linear model with Poisson distribution was used to determine the significant predictors of COVID-19 mortality. Results There was a significant positive correlation between median age, life expectancy, 65+ mortality and COVID-19 mortality while malaria prevalence, sex ratio and cardiovascular mortality were negatively correlated with COVID-19 mortality. Malaria prevalence, life expectancy and mortality rate were significant on multivariate regression analysis. Conclusion The results of this study support the hypotheses that there are reduced COVID-19 deaths in malaria endemic countries, although the results need to be proved further by clinical trials.

Background Over the recent years, gambling has evolved and grown substantially with new activities and facilities being introduced, making gambling products and opportunities more available in our environment than ever. While the growth of gambling industry is considered to have a beneficial impact on the economy, it is increasingly becoming a social and public health issue especially among young people leading to gambling disorder, a gambling behavior that damages personal, family, vocational and academic pursuits. Objectives The study determined the prevalence and correlates of gambling disorder among secondary school students in Mbarara Municipality. It also described the gambling activities practiced by students with gambling disorder. Methods A cross sectional study was conducted among secondary school students in Mbarara Municipality in 2019. A total of 921 students, from 12 schools, was recruited using random cluster sampling. Logistic regression models were fitted for factors associated with gambling disorder using STATA 12. Results A total of 921 participants were enrolled in the study, 362 (40%) reported to have ever gambled and 160 (17.7%) were classified as having gambling disorder. The most gambling activity practiced by the students was sports betting. Bivariate analysis shows that age, gender, peer involvement, class of student, type of school, advertisement, phone ownership, substance use, risky sexual behavior and psychological distress were significant when those that had ever gambled but has no gambling disorder was compared to those with gambling disorder. However, male students and those using substances were significant on multivariate analysis. Conclusion This study found a high prevalence of gambling disorder among students. Therefore, there is need to institute public health measures towards raising awareness, prevention and treatment of gambling disorder.

BackgroundPsychological distress is a mental health condition that is common in adolescents. It negatively affects the academic performance of adolescents, relationships with family and friends, and the ability of adolescents to participate fully in the community. Stressful life events in low income countries and risk taking behavior of adolescents have raised concerns on the magnitude and impact of psychological distress among adolescents in Uganda. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of psychological distress and assess the high risk behaviors associated with psychological distress among secondary school students in Uganda. MethodsA community based cross-sectional study was conducted among secondary school students in Mbarara Municipality, Uganda. Multistage cluster sampling technique was used to recruit study participants and a total of 921 students participated in the study using a self-reported questionnaire. Psychological distress was assessed by Kessler’s psychological distress scale (K10). To identify high risk behaviors associated with psychological distress, multinomial logistic regression was used with p <0.05 and 95% confidence interval. ResultsThe prevalence of psychological distress was 57%. Risky sexual behavior, alcohol consumption, smoking and substance use were associated with psychological distress. Also, boarding school students, those in mixed schools, students that own mobile phones and adolescents with chronic illness were more likely to report psychological distress. ConclusionThe prevalence of psychological distress is high among school going adolescents and risky behaviors were associated with psychological distress. The findings suggest the need to address mental health issues in adolescents.

In recent years, gambling has evolved and grown substantially with new gambling activities and facilities being introduced, making gambling products and opportunities more available than ever before in Uganda. While the growth of gambling industry is considered to have a beneficial impact on the economy, it is increasingly becoming a social and public health issue especially among a minority of young people who experience problem gambling, which can damage personal, family, vocational, and academic pursuits. The present study estimated the prevalence of problem gambling and identified the socio-demographic, school, environmental and health risks of problem gambling among secondary school students in Mbarara Municipality, Uganda. A cross-sectional study was conducted among secondary school students in Mbarara Municipality. A total of 921 students from 12 schools were recruited using cluster sampling. An ordinal logistic regression model was used to explore the relationship between problem gambling and the socio-demographic, academic, environmental and health variables. Of 905 participants, 362 reported having ever gambled (40%), and 160 were classified as problem gamblers (17.7%; 44.2% among those who had ever gambled). Problem gambling was significantly associated with being male, being non-religious, other religion (African traditional religion), having employment (outside of school), distance to nearest gambling venue, parental gambling, peer gambling, substance use, risky sexual behavior, and psychological distress. The present study found a very high prevalence of problem gambling among Ugandan secondary school students. Therefore, there is need to institute public health measures towards raising awareness, prevention and treatment of problem gambling among Ugandan adolescents.

Background Psychological distress among adolescents negatively affects their academic performance, relationships with family and friends, and ability to participate fully in the community. Stressful life events in low-income countries and risk-taking behavior of adolescents have raised concerns regarding the impact of psychological distress among adolescents. Therefore, the present study estimated the prevalence of psychological distress and examined the high-risk behaviors associated with psychological distress among Ugandan adolescents. Methods A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among secondary school students in Mbarara Municipality, Uganda. Multistage cluster sampling was used to recruit 921 adolescents from 12 schools. Psychological distress was assessed using the 10-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10). Logistic regression was used with p-value estimating regression coefficient and 95% confidence interval for odds ratio and adjusted odds ratio (AOR). Results The prevalence of psychological distress using the K10 was 57%. Logistic regression analyses showed that risky sexual behavior [AOR = 1.52; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02–2.28], substance use (AOR = 2.06; 95% CI 1.49–2.84) were associated with psychological distress. Students in mixed schools (comprising both sexes) (AOR = 1.94; 95% CI 1.19–3.15) and adolescents with chronic illness (AOR = 1.68; 95% CI 1.18–2.38) were more likely to report psychological distress. Conclusion The prevalence of psychological distress among school-going adolescents is high. Risky sexual behavior, substance use as well as chronic illness were associated with psychological distress. In addition, the type of school was significantly associated with psychological distress. The findings suggest the need for policy makers and stakeholders in health and education sectors to institute measures that will address mental health issues among adolescents.