Self-reported Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder symptoms among university students in Eldoret, Kenya

Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence of self-reported attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms among university students in Eldoret, Kenya. Design: A cross-sectional descriptive study of all students who gave consent to participate in the study. Setting: Moi University's Town Campus, comprising the Schools of Medicine, Dentistry and Public Health. Subjects: Four hundred and fifty eight undergraduate students, with a mean age of 23.7 years (17-46, S.D. 4.1), of whom 236 (51.5%) were male. Main outcome measures: Presence of ADHD symptoms as measured by the adult ADHD self-report scale (ASRS versus 1.1). Results: The prevalence rate of self-reported ADHD symptoms was 21.8%. This was significantly associated with belonging to a younger age-group (17-20 years) compared to the older age-groups (p<0.05). The prevalence was higher among females (25.2%) than among males (18.6%), but this was not statistically significant. There was no significant association between a positive ASRS screen and course of study. Using a modification of ASRS full symptom checklist to approximate a DSM IV TR ADHD diagnosis yielded a prevalence of ADHD symptoms of 9.2% in this cohort. Conclusion: The prevalence rate of ADHD symptoms among university students in Eldoret, Kenya is significantly higher than that reported in other studies. Further studies are needed to generate more information about this condition in the lowincome countries, especially in college and university populations.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptom self-report among medical students in Eldoret, Kenya

“…3 Another study in the same setting but involving a combination of medical and other health science students found an ADHD self-reported symptom prevalence rate of 9.2% using the same criteria. 16 Though the magnitude of the difference in the prevalence rates is modest, it seems to provide further evidence that ADHD would interfere with academic and occupational progression as suggested by previous work. 1,3,13,14 This study also suggests an age-dependent decline in the symptoms of ADHD, with the younger age groups showing higher symptom prevalence rates than the older students, consistent with the trend reported elsewhere.…”

“…13 However, a study on ADHD among university students in Eldoret, Kenya, found the hyperactive-impulsive type (40.5%) to be more prevalent than the inattentive type (35.7%) and combined type (23.8%). 16 These findings therefore demonstrate the need for further research in this area.…”

Lost in transition: A review of the unmet need of patients with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder transitioning to adulthood

“…Only 2 manuscripts discussing adult ADHD were found. Both of these were from Kenya and discussed self‐reported ADHD in university students (Atwoli, Owiti, Manguro, & Ndambuki, ; Atwoli, Owiti, Manguro, & Ndambuki, ). There is clearly a need to study the treatment of ADHD in children and adolescents as well as the transition of adolescents with ADHD to adulthood.…”

Cross-sectional study of self-reported ADHD symptoms and psychological comorbidity among college students in Chandigarh, India

“…But these researchers had employed ASRS screen alone to estimate this prevalence rate and they failed to identify those college students who had symptoms in childhood which would have reflected a true prevalence rate. [ 20 ]…”