BACKGROUND: Although mental health problems affect the general population, students are highly vulnerable to psychological disorders. Mental distress among students is a cause of concern as it may impair their behavior and diminish learning, which could negatively affect their academic performance. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and the factors associated with mental distress among college students in Southern Ethiopia.METHODS: Institution based cross-sectional study was conducted among 280 regular students of Hawassa College of Health Sciences. Mental distress was measured using a Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20). The data were entered into Epi-Info version 3.5.4 and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 20. Multivariable logistic analysis was performed following bivariate analysis to adjust for the effect of confounders.RESULT: The prevalence of mental distress among the study subjects was found to be 59 (22.30%). Female students were 2.08 times more likely to have mental distress as compared to male students (AOR =2.08 [95% CI: 1.14-3.82]). The odds of mental distress among third-year students was 60% lower compared to second-year students [AOR = 0.40; 95 % CI, (0.19, 0.87)]. Students who were from Amhara ethnic group were 3.37 times more likely to have mental distress as compared to students from Sidama ethnic group [AOR=3.37;95%CI (1.13-10.09)]. Moreover, students who had Grade Point Average of below 60% were 4.69 times more likely to be mentally distressed as compared to those students who scored Grade Point Average of greater or equal to 60% (AOR= 4.69; 95%CI,[ 2.46, 8.96).CONCLUSION: The finding suggests the importance of providing mental health counseling support for students as part of the teaching and learning process. More research to further explore the multiple factors influencing students’ mental health condition should also be conducted.

Considering the importance of nutritional health for people living with HIV, programs delivering nutritional support have been scaled up globally. Among various programs, the Food by Prescription (FBP) program has been implemented in Ethiopia since 2010. This study was undertaken to assess the level of adherence to the FBP program and identify the associated factors among HIV infected adults. Facility-based cross-sectional study design was conducted from May to June 2018 among 481 adult people living with HIV who have been enrolled in the program in 15 public health facilities. The study subjects were selected through a convenient sampling technique and data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. The data were entered and analyzed using Epi Info version 7 and Statistical Package for Social Science version 20 statistical software respectively. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression were used. More than half 285(59.3) of the study subjects were found to be adherent to the FBP program. The amount of prescribed food, the duration of stay in nutrition program, the practice of sharing the supplement and experiencing of supplement stock out was found to be the most important predictors. The study revealed the level of adherence to the FBP program and identified some of the most important associated factors among adult people living with HIV. Strengthening the counseling component of the program, improving the supply management of the health facilities and linking people living with HIV to the economic strengthening activities should be considered to improve the adherence level of the program.