Background Relapse in psychiatric disorders is highly distressing that posed a huge burden to the patients, family, and society. It interrupts the process of recovery and may increase the risk of resistance to treatment. Relapse detection and taking preventive measures against its possible factors are crucial for a better prognosis. Objective To assess lifetime relapse and its associated factors among people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders who are on follow-up at Comprehensive Specialized Hospitals in Amhara region, Ethiopia. Method An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from July 13-August 13, at Comprehensive Specialized Hospitals in Amhara region, Ethiopia, 2020. Data were collected from 415 randomly selected participants using an interviewer administered questionnaire. Relapse was determined using participants’ medical records and a semi-structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25. Logistic regression analysis was done to identify the explanatory variables of relapse. Variables with P-value < 0.05 were considered significantly associated with relapse. Result The magnitude of lifetime relapse was 57.4% (95% CI = 53–62%). Relapse was significantly associated with comorbidity of another mental illness (AOR = 1.84, 95% CI = 1.06, 3.18), non-adherence to medication (AOR = 2.23, 95% CI = 1.22, 4.07), shorter duration on treatment (AOR = 1.71, 95% CI = 1.05, 2.81), and experiencing stressful life events (AOR = 2.42, CI = 1.2, 4.66). Conclusion In the current study, more than half of the participants had lifetime relapses. Comorbid mental illnesses, non-adherence, duration of treatment ≤ 5 years, and experiencing stressful life events were factors associated with relapse. This requires each stakeholder to give concern and work collaboratively on the respective factors that lead to relapse.

Introduction: Mental health disorders during pregnancy are of public health concern because of the implications for the mother and child's health. Mental health issues during pregnancy must, therefore, be diagnosed and addressed. And interventions to improve maternal mental health during pregnancy are critical preventive strategies against adverse health and developmental outcomes in newborns and children. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of common maternal mental disorders and associated factors among pregnant women in North Wollo, Northwest Ethiopia. Objective: The study aimed to assess the magnitude of common mental disorders and associated factors among pregnant women in North Wollo, 2022 Method: Institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted in North Wollo zone public health facilities from February to April 2022. A total of 777 samples were selected using a multistage sampling technique. Women were assessed for the risk of common mental disorders using a pretested, structured, self-reporting questionnaire (SRQ-20). The collected data were entered into Epi-data version 3.1 software and analyzed using R version 4.0 software. Descriptive statistics were computed. A simple logistic regression model was fit to identify the association and strength of exploratory variables and common mental disorders at a 95% confidence interval and p-value < 0.05. Results: The study revealed that the prevalence of common mental disorders during pregnancy was 18.1% (95%CI: 15.5, 21.0). Educational status of participants (AOR=0.17, 95% CI: 0.06, 0.48), husband educational status (AOR=11.13, 95%: 4.18, 29.66), unplanned pregnancy (AOR=2.54, 95% CI: 1.26, 5.09), self-reported complication on the current pregnancy (AOR=0.11, 95% CI: 0.05, 0.21), self-reported complication during the previous delivery (AOR=3.38, 95% CI: 1.39, 8.18), nutritional status (AOR=2.19, 95%: 1.26, 3.81), psychosocial risk (AOR=20.55, 95% CI: 9.69, 43.59), legal problem (AOR=2.06, 95%: 1.12, 3.79) and relationship problem (AOR=7.22, 95% CI: 3.59, 14.53) were showed statistical significant association. Conclusions: The prevalence of common mental disorders among pregnant women was high. Educational status of the participants and their spouse, unplanned pregnancy, self-reported complication during current pregnancy and previous delivery, nutritional status, psychosocial risk, and legal and relationship problem were the main determinants of CMD.

BackgroundProblematic substance use is becoming a common problem in marginalized groups such as street youths. However, there is a dearth of studies on the prevalence and factors associated with problematic substance use among street youth in Ethiopia.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of problematic substance use and identify its associated factors among street youth.MethodsThis community-based cross-sectional study was conducted between June and July 2020. A total of 252 participants were included in this study. Systematic random sampling was used to recruit participants. Cut down, annoyed, guilty feeling, and eye opening-adapted to include drugs (CAGE-AIDs) were used to assess problematic substance use. The data were entered into epidata and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Logistic regression with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to show the strength of association. A p-value &lt; 0.5 was statistically significant.ResultsThe prevalence of problematic substance use was 55.8%, 95% CI (49–63%). Peer pressure [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 3.01, 95% CI: 1.38, 6.59], family conflict [AOR = 5.05, 95% CI: 1.67, 15.25], physical abuse [AOR = 2.56, 95% CI: 1.11, 5.84], and substance use in the family [AOR = 2.85, 95% CI: 1.29, 6.27] were the factors significantly associated with problematic substance use.ConclusionThe prevalence of problematic substance use was high. It was also found that peer pressure, family conflict, substance use in the family, and physical abuse were the factors associated with problematic substance use. Therefore, proper screening and intervention for individuals with problematic substance use are needed, and further research should be conducted for marginalized groups.

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.

Mental health is a major problem of many people's worldwide. Conditions affecting the brain are an important cause of disability and have a major impact on quality of life as well as on the social and economic viability of families and communities. In Ethiopia, mental illness is the leading non communicable disorder in terms of burden. The disability and mortality associated with mental illness in Ethiopia is high. This study concludes the following prioritized problems in the community that needs interventions. Which includes Lack of awareness towards mental illness (78.4%), Lack of awareness towards epilepsy (41.75%), Presence of common mental disorders (6.76%),Prevalence of stressful life event (34.87%) and Prevalence of substance use (alcohol 31.44%). Health is defined as a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity (WHO, 2001).Mental health is defined as a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stressors of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community (WHO, 2014).Common mental disorder (CMD) is a term used to describe a group of mental disorders that frequently occur in primary care patients. It includes symptoms of depression, anxiety and somatization the latter often indicated by repeated visits to health care practitioners without resolution of the problem.