Impact of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) on the Mental Health and Physical Activity of Pharmacy Students at the University of Zambia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

BackgroundThe novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a serious global health problem that has negatively impacted the mental health of students.MethodsWe conducted an online descriptive cross-sectional study among 273 undergraduate pharmacy students at the University of Zambia. A partial proportional odds regression model was used to determine the predictors of anxiety. All statistical tests were set at 95% confidence level (p<0.05).ResultsA response rate of 70% was obtained with the majority of the students being female 51.6%. Of the 273 respondents, 23.8% did not experience anxiety, 34.4% experienced mild anxiety, 24.9% experienced moderate anxiety while 16.9% experienced severe anxiety about COVID-19. It was also found that 61.2% of students reported that their attention to mental health increased during the COVID-19 pandemic whereas 44.3% reported an increased resting time with a significant reduction in relaxation 51.3% and physical activity 45.4% time. Factors that affected mental health included; reduced family care (OR: 2.27; 95% CI: 1.09-4.74), not changing attention to mental health (OR: 0.33; 95% CI: 0.18-0.62), being in the final year of study (OR: 0.33; 95% CI: 0.13-0.84), reduced time of resting (OR: 2.10; 95% CI: 1.26-3.50) and feeling helpless (OR: 0.42; 95% CI:0.23-0.75).ConclusionCOVID-19 negatively impacted the mental health and physical activity of pharmacy students at the University of Zambia. This can have negative health and academic outcomes for students going forward. Higher learning institutions and key stakeholders should implement measures to aid students to recover from the impact of COVID-19 on their mental health and physical activity.

Psychological Stress among Students in Health-Related Fields during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of a Cross-Sectional Study at Selected Munich Universities

“…Even before the pandemic a significant negative relationship between perceived stress and locus of control has been reported among higher education students [ 42 ]. It can be assumed that the effects have worsened, which is in line with Mudenda et al who found that feelings of helplessness during the COVID-19 pandemic were associated with mental health in pharmacy students [ 43 ]. Consistent with this observation, Kuehner et al found a high internal locus of control to be a conducive personality trait for better psychological well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic [ 44 ]…”

Zambia’s Mental Health Patients: Victims of Unspeakable Infrastructure Challenge in Zambia’s Health System

“…For example, a team of scholars at the University of Zambia conducted a cross-sectional study on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health and physical activity of undergraduate pharmacy students at the University. The findings established that COVID-19 had affected the students (Mudenda, Mukosha, Chiluba 2021). On a broad scale, it means that COVID-19 has impacted the mental health of different populations across the country (Ibid 2021).…”

“…As mental health is fundamentally integrated into the mainstream primary health care systems, mental patients are key stakeholders whose human rights should drive policy direction to migrate them from the side-step of system to the center. For example, Mudenda and his colleagues contend that in addition to modifying the facets of the learning environment at the university of Zambia, extra consideration should be given to provide psychosocial support to students negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic (Mudenda, Mukosha, Chiluba, Munkombwe, Daka, Witika, Kampamba, Chileshe 2021). Addressing these health challenges in a more multi-pronged manner requires constant advocacy to policy makers and alike.…”

Awareness and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines and associated factors among pharmacy students in Zambia

“…A representative sample size of the population was calculated using Yamane's formula similar to another study involving pharmacy students in Zambia 57 . After extrapolating to a finite population of 632 undergraduate pharmacy students, a margin of error of 5% and an anticipated 10% loss or nonresponse, a minimum sample size of 259 was obtained.…”