Abstract:
Introduction. Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is characterized by dream-enacting behavior (shouting,
punching, and falling out of bed) related to unpleasant dreams and loss of normal rapid eye movement (REM) sleep muscle
atonia. Rapid eye movement sleep enhances learning and memory by regulating neuronal synapses, and if it is undesirable, it
can lead to cognitive impairment and poor academic performance and may end up with death. To the best of our searching
databases, there is no such study conducted in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study is aimed at determining self-reported symptoms
of RBD and its associated factors among the University of Gondar medicine and health science students (2019). Methods. We
conducted a cross-sectional study from June 1 to July 2019, among medicine and health science students at the University of
Gondar using a simple random sampling technique. A self-reported RBD screening questionnaire was used to collect the data.
We used Epi Info™ 7.0.8.3 and Stata 14 for data entry and statistical analyses, respectively. Descriptive statistics (frequency with
percent and mean with standard deviation) and adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% uncertainty interval (UI) were computed.
In a multivariable binary logistic regression, variables with a p < 0:05 were declared as significant. Results. Three hundred and
eighty-seven students took part in the study. The mean age of participants was 20.81 (±1.83) years. The prevalence of selfreported RBD was 46.25% [95% UI (41.26%-51.24)]. Physical exercise immediately before sleep (AOR = 2:50, 95% UI
(1.24-5.02)), using Facebook immediately before sleep (AOR = 1:93, 95% UI (1.18-3.15)), having daytime sleepiness
(AOR = 1:92, 95% UI (1.16-3.19)), and self-reported depressive symptoms (AOR = 2:40, 95% UI (1.45-3.99)) were
significantly associated with self-reported RBD. Conclusion. The current study revealed a high prevalence of self-reported
RBD. This remarkable problem suggested a need to design strategies to prevent RBD symptoms among university students
through targeting screening of depression, daytime sleepiness, and adjusting bedtime routines such as physical exercise and
internet use immediately before going to bed.
