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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology 7/2018

01-07-2018 | Original Paper

Mental health problems and their association to violence and maltreatment in a nationally representative sample of Tanzanian secondary school students

Authors: Mabula Nkuba, Katharin Hermenau, Katharina Goessmann, Tobias Hecker

Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Issue 7/2018

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Abstract

Purpose

Little is known about the prevalence of mental health problems among adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa. Research consistently determined violence and maltreatment to be important risk factors. In this study, we examined the prevalence of mental health problems among adolescents in Tanzania, as well as the association with exposure to violence and maltreatment.

Methods

We administered a set of questionnaires (e.g., strength and difficulties questionnaire; conflict tactic scale) to a nationally representative sample of 700 Tanzanian secondary school children (52% girls; age 14.92 years, SD = 1.02) and 333 parents or primary caregivers (53% females; age 43.47 years, SD = 9.02).

Results

41% of the students reported an elevated level of mental health problems (emotional problems 40%, peer problems 63%, conduct problems 45%, hyperactivity 17%) in the past 6 months. Concordantly, 31% of parents reported observing an elevated level of mental health problems in their children (emotional problems 37%, peer problems 54%, conduct problems 35%, hyperactivity 17%). After controlling for other risk factors, we found significant associations between physical violence by parents and adolescent’s mental health problems reported by students (β = 0.15) and their parents (β = 0.33).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest a high prevalence of mental health problems using screening tools among secondary school students in Tanzania as well as an association between physical violence by parents and adolescents’ mental health problems. Our findings emphasize the need to inform the population at large about the potentially adverse consequences associated with violence against children and adolescents.
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Metadata
Title
Mental health problems and their association to violence and maltreatment in a nationally representative sample of Tanzanian secondary school students
Authors
Mabula Nkuba
Katharin Hermenau
Katharina Goessmann
Tobias Hecker
Publication date
01-07-2018
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology / Issue 7/2018
Print ISSN: 0933-7954
Electronic ISSN: 1433-9285
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-018-1511-4

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