The Covid-19 pandemic has increased mental health challenges among male youth in Kampala, a new study by the School of Public Health, Makerere University, has revealed.
While pre-disseminating the findings of the study dubbed Formative Assessment of Adolescent Boys and Young Men’s Health Status in Kampala study, Dr Steven Kabwama, one of the researchers, on Friday said the most affected are those aged 20 to 24 due to more responsibilities and challenges which saw a number of them resort to drinking alcohol.
“15.5 per cent of those who are out of school resorted to drinking alcohol because of the mental effect the lockdown had on them compared to 3.2 per cent of those going to school who felt they were hopeless,” Dr Kabwama said.
The study was conducted on 2,500 male youth aged 10 to 24 years both in and out of school in all five divisions of Kampala.
The study states that 31 of the adolescent boys and young men contemplated suicide as a result of Covid-19 that came with limited ability to meet basic needs.
At least 62 per cent of the youths found it difficult to afford a diverse diet, 30.3 per cent experienced a reduction in income, and 70.3 per cent reported feeling more anxious than before whereas a number of them engaged in unhealthy behaviour.
Dr Joseph Matovu, co-principal investigator of the study, said despite the mental challenges, 24 per cent of the young men and adolescent boys reported that their parents paid attention and listened to them whereas 23 per cent reported to be misunderstood by their parents.
“There is need to design youth friendly services to address the sexual health and mental health needs of the adolescent boys and young men in Kampala through school and community outreaches where information, testing and referral for treatment are done,” reads the study in part.
According to the study there is need to analyse boy behaviour because some problems are coming from boys yet there is little focus on them
“The adolescent boys and young men continue to experience barriers in accessing and utilising health services because most health programmes neglect boys, ” reads the study in part.
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