Impact of the coronavirus disease on the mental health and physical activity of pharmacy students at the University of Zambia: a cross-sectional study

Authors

  • Steward Mudenda Department of Pharmacy, University of Zambia, School of Health Sciences, Lusaka, Zambia Department of Disease Control, University of Zambia, School of Veterinary Medicine, Lusaka, Zambia
  • Moses Mukosha Department of Pharmacy, University of Zambia, School of Health Sciences, Lusaka, Zambia
  • Chiluba Mwila Department of Pharmacy, University of Zambia, School of Health Sciences, Lusaka, Zambia
  • Zikria Saleem Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, the University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Aubrey Chichoni Kalungia Department of Pharmacy, University of Zambia, School of Health Sciences, Lusaka, Zambia
  • Derick Munkombwe Department of Pharmacy, University of Zambia, School of Health Sciences, Lusaka, Zambia
  • Victor Daka Department of Disease Control, University of Zambia, School of Veterinary Medicine, Lusaka, Zambia Copperbelt University, Michael Chilufya Sata School of Medicine, Ndola, Zambia
  • Bwalya Angel Witika Department of Pharmacy, DDT College of Medicine, Gaborone, Botswana
  • Martin Kampamba Department of Pharmacy, University of Zambia, School of Health Sciences, Lusaka, Zambia
  • Christabel Nang’andu Hikaambo Department of Pharmacy, University of Zambia, School of Health Sciences, Lusaka, Zambia
  • Mohammad Jaffar Sadiq Department of Pharmacology, Batterjee Medical College for Science and Technology, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
  • Misheck Chileshe Mary Begg Health Services, 56 Chintu Avenue, Northrise, Ndola, Zambia; 8Zhengzhou University, College of Public Health, Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
  • Maisa Kasanga Zhengzhou University, College of Public Health, Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
  • Webrod Mufwambi Department of Pharmacy, University of Zambia, School of Health Sciences, Lusaka, Zambia
  • Ruth Lindizyani Mfune Department of Disease Control, University of Zambia, School of Veterinary Medicine, Lusaka, Zambia Copperbelt University, Michael Chilufya Sata School of Medicine, Ndola, Zambia
  • Scott Kaba Matafwali Copperbelt University, Michael Chilufya Sata School of Medicine, Ndola, Zambia
  • Paul Odlon Masebe Department of Pharmacy, University of Zambia, School of Health Sciences, Lusaka, Zambia
  • Lungwani Tyson Muungo Department of Pharmacy, University of Zambia, School of Health Sciences, Lusaka, Zambia
  • Angela Gono Bwalya Department of Pharmacy, University of Zambia, School of Health Sciences, Lusaka, Zambia
  • Ronald Mutati Kampamba Department of Pharmacy, University of Zambia, School of Health Sciences, Lusaka, Zambia
  • Ellah Zingani Department of Pharmacy, University of Zambia, School of Health Sciences, Lusaka, Zambia
  • David Chimbizgani Banda Department of Nursing, Chreso University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Lusaka, Zambia
  • Edgar John Sintema School of Doctoral Studies, Universidad de Valladolid, Spain
  • Akash Gupta Department of Management Studies, Ramniranjan Jhunjhunwala College, University of Mumbai, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
  • Noor Mohammed Abdulrahman Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Basrah, College of Pharmacy, Iraq
  • Jimmy Mapenzi Hangoma Department of Pharmacy, Levy Mwanawasa Medical University, School of Health Sciences, Lusaka, Zambia
  • Maureen Nkandu Phiri Department of Pharmacy, University of Zambia, School of Health Sciences, Lusaka, Zambia
  • Dainess Hang’andu Department of Pharmacy, University of Zambia, School of Health Sciences, Lusaka, Zambia
  • Moses Ngazimbi Department of Pharmacy, University of Zambia, School of Health Sciences, Lusaka, Zambia
  • Frank Mudenda Department of Civil Engineering, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Hatfield, South Africa
  • Michelo Banda Department of Pharmacy, University of Zambia, School of Health Sciences, Lusaka, Zambia
  • Eustarckio Kazonga Department of Public Health, University of Lusaka, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Lusaka, Zambia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20211010

Keywords:

Coronavirus disease, COVID-19, Mental health, Physical activity, Pharmacy students, Anxiety

Abstract

Background: The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a serious global health problem that has negatively impacted the mental health of students.

Methods: We conducted an online descriptive cross-sectional study among 273 undergraduate pharmacy students at the University of Zambia from August to September 2020. A partial proportional odds regression model was used to determine the predictors of anxiety. All statistical tests were set at 95% confidence level (p<0.05).

Results: A response rate of 70% was obtained with the majority of the students being female 51.6%. Of the 273 respondents, 23.8% did not experience anxiety, 34.4% experienced mild anxiety, 24.9% experienced moderate anxiety while 16.9% experienced severe anxiety about COVID-19. It was also found that 61.2% of students reported that their attention to mental health increased during the COVID-19 pandemic whereas 44.3% reported an increased resting time with a significant reduction in relaxation 51.3% and physical activity 45.4% time. Factors that affected mental health included; reduced family care (OR: 2.27; 95% CI: 1.09-4.74), not changing attention to mental health (OR: 0.33; 95% CI: 0.18-0.62), being in the final year of study (OR: 0.33; 95% CI: 0.13-0.84), reduced time of resting (OR: 2.10; 95% CI: 1.26-3.50) and feeling helpless (OR: 0.42; 95% CI:0.23-0.75).

Conclusions: COVID-19 negatively impacted the mental health and physical activity of pharmacy students at the University of Zambia. This can have negative health and academic outcomes for students going forward. Higher learning institutions and key stakeholders should implement measures to aid students to recover from the impact of COVID-19 on their mental health and physical activity.

References

Cascella M, Rajnik M, Cuomo A, Dulebohn SC, Di Napoli R. Features, Evaluation and Treatment Coronavirus (COVID-19). StatPearls 2020.

Lu H, Stratton CW, Tang YW. Outbreak of pneumonia of unknown etiology in Wuhan, China: The mystery and the miracle. J Medic Virol 2020;92:401-2.

Hangoma JM, Mudenda S, Mwenechanya MM, Kalungia AC. Community pharmacists’ knowledge and preparedness to participate in the fight against Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Zambia. Med Rxiv 2020.

Sohrabi C, Alsafi Z, O’Neill N, Khan M, Kerwan A, Al-Jabir A, et al. World Health Organization declares global emergency: A review of the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Int J Surg. 2020;76:71-6.

Huang C, Wang Y, Li X, Ren L, Zhao J, Hu Y, et al. Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China. Lancet 2020;395(10223):497–506.

Mudenda S. Letter to Editor: Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19): A Global Health Problem. Int J Pharm Pharmacol 2020;4(1):1–2.

Phiri NM, Banda M, Mudenda S, Ngazimbi M, Hangoma JM, Mufwambi W, Mutati RK, Muungo LT. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): The Role of Pharmacists in the Fight against COVID-19 Pandemic. Int J Pharm Pharmacol 2020;4(1):1–3.

Shah SJ, Barish PN, Prasad PA, Kistler A, Neff N, Kamm J, et al. Clinical features, diagnostics, and outcomes of patients presenting with acute respiratory illness: A retrospective cohort study of patients with and without COVID-19. E Clinical Med. 2020;27:100518.

Kasanga M, Mudenda S, Gondwe T, Chileshe M, Solochi B, Wu J. Impact of COVID-19 on blood donation and transfusion services at Lusaka provincial blood transfusion centre, Zambia. Pan Afr Med J 2020;35(2):74.

Cucinotta D, Vanelli M. WHO declares COVID-19 a pandemic. Acta Biomedica 2020;91:157–60.

Atalan A. Is the lockdown important to prevent the COVID-9 pandemic? Effects on psychology, environment and economy-perspective. Ann Med Surg 2020;56:38–42.

Tee ML, Tee CA, Anlacan JP, Aligam KJG, Reyes PWC, Kuruchittham V, et al. Psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines. J Affect Disord 2020;277:379–91.

Wang H, Xia Q, Xiong Z, Li Z, Xiang W, Yuan Y, et al. The psychological distress and coping styles in the early stages of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic in the general mainland Chinese population: A web-based survey. Hashimoto K, editor. PLoS One 2020;15(5):e0233410.

Alkhamees AA, Alrashed SA, Alzunaydi AA, Almohimeed AS, Aljohani MS. The psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the general population of Saudi Arabia. Compr Psychiatry 2020;102(10):152192.

Stanton R, Happell B, Reaburn P. The mental health benefits of regular physical activity, and its role in preventing future depressive illness. Nurs Res Rev 2014;4:45.

Bell SL, Audrey S, Gunnell D, Cooper A, Campbell R. The relationship between physical activity, mental wellbeing and symptoms of mental health disorder in adolescents: A cohort study. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2019;16(1):138.

Ding D, Del Pozo Cruz B, Green MA, Bauman AE. Is the COVID-19 lockdown nudging people to be more active: a big data analysis. Brit J Sports Med. 2020;54:20.

Srivastav AK, Sharma N, Samuel AJ. Impact of Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) lockdown on physical activity and energy expenditure among physiotherapy professionals and students using web-based open E-survey sent through WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram messengers: Impact of COVID-19 lock. Clin Epidemiol Glob Heal 2020.

WHO. Zambia: WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard | WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard. 2020. Available at: https://covid19.who.int/region/afro/country/zm. Accessed on 02 January 2021.

Mudenda S, Zulu A, Phiri MN, Ngazimbi M, Mufwambi W, Kasanga M, et al. Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) on College and University Students: A Global Health and Education Problem. Aquademia 2020;4(2):ep20026.

Sintema EJ. E-Learning and Smart Revision Portal for Zambian Primary and Secondary School Learners: A Digitalized Virtual Classroom in the COVID-19 Era and Beyond. Aquademia 2020;4(2):ep20017.

Toquero CM. Challenges and Opportunities for Higher Education amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Philippine Context. Pedagog Res 2020;5(4):em0063.

Liang L, Ren H, Cao R, Hu Y, Qin Z, Li C, et al. The Effect of COVID-19 on Youth Mental Health. Psychiatr Q. 2020;91(3):841–52.

Zhai Y, Du X. Addressing collegiate mental health amid COVID-19 pandemic. Psychiat Res 2020;288.

Cao W, Fang Z, Hou G, Han M, Xu X, Dong J, et al. The psychological impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on college students in China. Psychiatry Res 2020;287(5):112934–40.

Waseem M, Aziz N, Arif M, Noor A, Mustafa M, Khalid, Z. (2020). Impact of post-traumatic stress of COVID-19 on mental wellbeing of undergraduate medical students in Pakistan. Pak Armed Forces Med 2020;70(1):S220-4.

Lee J. Mental health effects of school closures during COVID-19. Lancet Child Adolesc Heal 2020;4(6):421.

Kalungia AC, Tyson Muungo L, Marshall S, Apampa B, May C, Munkombwe D. Training of pharmacists in Zambia: Developments, curriculum structure and future perspectives. Pharm Educ 2019;19(1):69–78.

Joskow J, Yamane T. Statistics, an Introductory Analysis. J Am Stat Assoc 1965;60(310):678.

Spitzer RL, Kroenke K, Williams JBW, Löwe B. A brief measure for assessing generalized anxiety disorder: The GAD-7. Arch Intern Med 2006;166(10):1092–7.

Chang J, Yuan Y, Wang D. [Mental health status and its influencing factors among college students during the epidemic of COVID-19]. Nan Fang Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao. 2020;40(2):171–6.

Xiao H, Shu W, Li M, Li Z, Tao F, Wu X, et al. Social distancing among medical students during the 2019 coronavirus disease pandemic in china: Disease awareness, anxiety disorder, depression, and behavioral activities. Int J Environ Res Pub Heal 2020;17(14):1-13.

Khan AH, Sultana MS, Hossain S, Hasan MT, Ahmed HU, Sikder MT. The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and wellbeing among home-quarantined Bangladeshi students: A cross-sectional pilot study. J Affect Disord 2020;277:121-8.

Kang L, Li Y, Hu S, Chen M, Yang C, Yang BX, et al. The mental health of medical workers in Wuhan, China dealing with the 2019 novel coronavirus. The Lancet Psychiat 2020;7:e14.

Torales J, O’Higgins M, Castaldelli-Maia JM, Ventriglio A. The outbreak of COVID-19 coronavirus and its impact on global mental health. Int J Soc Psychiat. 2020;66:317–20.

Peluso MAM, Guerra de Andrade LHS. Physical activity and mental health: the association between exercise and mood. Clinics 2005;60:61–70.

Wu X, Tao S, Zhang Y, Zhang S, Tao F. Low physical activity and high screen time can increase the risks of mental health problems and poor sleep quality among Chinese college students. Tian J, editor. PLoS One 2015;10(3):e0119607.

Maugeri G, Castrogiovanni P, Battaglia G, Pippi R, D’Agata V, Palma A, et al. The impact of physical activity on psychological health during Covid-19 pandemic in Italy. Heliyon 2020;6(6):e04315.

Di Stefano V, Battaglia G, Giustino V, Gagliardo A, D’Aleo M, Giannini O, et al. Significant reduction of physical activity in patients with neuromuscular disease during COVID-19 pandemic: the long-term consequences of quarantine. J Neurol 2020.

Füzéki E, Groneberg DA, Banzer W. Physical activity during COVID-19 induced lockdown: recommendations. J Occup Med Toxicol 2020;15(1).

Downloads

Published

2021-03-22

How to Cite

Mudenda, S., Mukosha, M., Mwila, C., Saleem, Z., Kalungia, A. C., Munkombwe, D., Daka, V., Witika, B. A., Kampamba, M., Hikaambo, C. N., Sadiq, M. J., Chileshe, M., Kasanga, M., Mufwambi, W., Mfune, R. L., Matafwali, S. K., Masebe, P. O., Muungo, L. T., Bwalya, A. G., Kampamba, R. M., Zingani, E., Banda, D. C., Sintema, E. J., Gupta, A., Abdulrahman, N. M., Hangoma, J. M., Phiri, M. N., Hang’andu, D., Ngazimbi, M., Mudenda, F., Banda, M., & Kazonga, E. (2021). Impact of the coronavirus disease on the mental health and physical activity of pharmacy students at the University of Zambia: a cross-sectional study. International Journal of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology, 10(4), 324–332. https://doi.org/10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20211010

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 4 (2021): April 2021

Section

Original Research Articles