Abstract:
Abstract
Background: Social phobia is the third most common mental illness in the world. It has
a negative impact on educational achievement by increasing school absentees,
prevents students to participate in class, and this leads to a significant impairment to
emotional, psychological, social, and physical wellbeing of students. Researches done
regarding social phobia and associated factors among high school students in low and
middle income countries are limited. Therefore the aim of this study is to assess the
prevalence and associated factors of social phobia among high school students have
pivotal role for further investigation.
Objectives: To assess the prevalence and associated factors of social phobia among
high school students in Yilmana Densa Woreda, Northwest Ethiopia, 2021.
Methods: A school based cross-sectional study was conducted from April 15 to May 14
2021, by using simple random sampling technique to select a sample of 936
participants. Social phobia was assessed by using social phobia inventory (SPIN),
binary and multivariate analysis was done to identify factors associated with social
phobia. Statistical significant was declared at 95% confidence interval (CI) of p-value
less than or equal to 0.05.
Result: Prevalence of social phobia among high school students was found to be
40.2% with (95% CI 37.0 to 43.4%). In the multivariable analysis, female sex (AOR =
1.374, 95% CI 1.016, 1.858), poor social support (AOR=2.408, 95% CI 1.660, 3.493),
having known chronic medical illness (AOR=2.131, 95% CI 1.173, 3.870), having history
of mental illness in the family (AOR= 1.723 95% CI 1.071, 2.773), and being highly risky
alcohol user (AOR=1.992 95% CI 1.034, 3.838) were factors significantly associated
with social phobia symptoms.
Conclusion: The overall prevalence of SP among high school students was 40.2% and
higher among females, highly alcoholic drinkers, those who have poor social support
and family history of mental illness. Therefore early detection and adequate intervention
is crucial to reduce overall burden of social phobia among high school students.
Keywords: prevalence, Social phobia, high school students, Ethiopia
