COVID-19 and common mental disorders among university students in South Africa

COVID-19 has had far-reaching economic, social and health consequences, with vulnerable groups disproportionally affected. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, concern was expressed about university students' mental health, with global data suggesting students are more vulnerable than the general population to mental disorders. Yet, it is unclear what the pandemic's impact has been on the mental health of students in South Africa. We examined the impact of COVID-19 on first-year students at two universities in South Africa by analysing changes in the prevalence and age-of-onset of three common mental disorders (namely major depressive episode, generalised anxiety disorder, and suicidal ideation) before and during the pandemic, and comparing these to changes between 2015 and 2017. Our analysis of cross-sectional survey data collected in 2015, 2017 and 2020 shows no clear or consistent pattern of increases in prevalence of common mental disorders following the start of the pandemic. Lifetime prevalence rates of common mental disorders among students have been steadily increasing since 2015, and where increases before and during COVID-19 were observed, they are not consistently larger than increases between 2015 and 2020. No significant changes were observed in the 12-month prevalence of common mental disorders before and during COVID-19, except for an increase in prevalence of depression at one institution, and a decrease in suicidal ideation at the other. Findings suggest that in the context of ongoing adversity and disruptions on South African university campuses in recent years, COVID-19 may be just one more stressor local students face and that its impact on student mental health may not have been as marked in South Africa compared to other regions. © 2023. The Author(s). Published under a Creative Commons Attribution Licence.

Male And Female Gi Fellows Have Similar Motivators Behind Career Planning

Background: Most Gastroenterology (Gi) Fellowship Programs Are Based In Academic Centers. Though Many Trainees Express Interest In An Academic Career During Fellowship Interviews, Many Pursue A Career In Private Practice. A Few Studies Prior To 2010 Have Assessed The Motivation Behind Fellow’S Decisions In Their Career Paths, Since That Time The Fellowship Structure And Demographics Of Gi Fellows Have Changed Significantly. This Study Seeks To Identify Which Factors Influence Career Choices Among Gastroenterology Fellows. Methods: An Anonymous Internet Survey Was Distributed To Program Directors And Coordinators To Be Sent To Their Program’S Fellows. The Survey Was Distributed In 3 Waves Between 8/10/2020 To 11/5/2020. Fellows Were Able To Provide Their Email To Be Entered Into A Drawing For A Gift Card To Encourage Participation In The Survey. Results: A Total Of 142 Fellows (24.6%, 577 Total Spots) From 23 States Responded. Respondents Were Evenly Split Among Training Years. Demographics Can Be Seen In Table 1. 33.1% Reported Private Practice Was Their Intended Practice Setting;There Was No Difference Between Genders (P=0.18). 31.2% Reported Plans For An Additional Subspecialty Training. Intended Scope Of Practice And Plans For An Additional Training Year Was Associated With Entering Private Practice (P=0.013 And P=0.028 Respectively). Trainees In The West Were More Likely To Stay In Private Practice, While Those In The Northeast Were More Likely To Enter Academics (P=0.007). Geographic Preference Was The Most Important Factor In Choosing A Career Followed By Family Reasons And Workload/ Flexibility, But These Did Not Differ With Intended Practice Setting (P=0.136, 0.253, 0.098) (Figure 1). On Gender Comparison, Both Men And Women Reported Altering Their Family Planning Due To Training (40.9% Of Respondents), But Men Were More Likely To Have Children (P=0.004). There Was No Difference In Research Productivity, But Men Were More Likely To Have Mentors Of The Same Gender Than Female Trainees (P=0.0003). Only 8.59% Of Respondents Stated That The Covid Pandemic Has Affected Their Intended Practice Setting. Discussion: Our Study Is The First In Over A Decade To Assess Factors That Impact Gi Fellow Career Choices. Women Are As Likely To Stay In Academics As Men But Are Less Likely To Have Children Than Men Despite Similar Marital Status. Those Planning On Additional Subspecialty Training Are More Likely To Plan On Entering Private Practice. Geographic Location And Family Are Equally Important To Male And Female Fellows. Special Attention Should Be Given To Mentorship And Guidance Of Fellows To Help Them Achieve Both Personal And Professional Goals. (Table Presented) (Figure Presented)