Online Journal of Health & Allied Sciences (Jan 2022)
Mental Health Literacy of Adolescents and the Effect of Socio-demographic Characteristics: A Cross-sectional Study in Urban Ethiopia
Abstract
Background: Mental health literacy is a modifiable factor that influences mental health outcomes. Understanding such factors and their interaction with the socio-demographic characteristics of adolescent populations is of paramount importance in the design of targeted and effective promotions to improve mental health conditions. There is a limited amount of such evidence in low-income countries, including Ethiopia. Consequently, this study examined mental health literacy level and socio-demographic effects among adolescent students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescent students in urban Ethiopia using a pre-existing questionnaire. A sample of 934 adolescents in public and private schools was approached using multistage random sampling, with an 80.10% response rate. Statistical analysis was used involving descriptive statistics, one way ANOVA and hierarchical multivariable linear regression analysis. Statistical significance was considered at a threshold of p<0.05 and 95% CI were computed. Results: The mental health literacy score was normally distributed with mean =135.98 and SD=15.50. Mental health literacy was higher among female than male respondents (138.12 versus 133.84; p<0.01) and differently affected by socio-demographic factors. The combined factors of ethnicity/cultural affiliation, school grade, and level of parental education accounted for 10.7% and 8.9% of the variability in mental health literacy of female and male respondents, respectively. Ethnicity/cultural affiliation contributed the highest variability (6.3% in female and 6.1% in male respondents). Conclusions: Mental health literacy was consistent with that reported in similar studies. Promotion of adolescent mental health through improving mental health literacy requires gender-based and culturally congruent approaches. Despite there being minimal contribution from socio-demographic factors, it is imperative that these differences are considered. This study highlights the need to understand other factors affecting the variability in adolescent mental health literacy.
