Interrelated adolescent-level food insecurity and common mental health disorders in Harari Region, Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study

by Kasiye Shiferaw, Gari Hunduma, Yadeta Dessie, Tesfaye Assebe Yadeta, Biftu Geda, Negussie Deyessa Background Global adolescent-level food insecurity (AFI) and common mental disorders (CMD) represent a significant public health burden. While household-level food security is known to be associated with mental health disorders, there is a dearth of evidence regarding the specific association between AFI and CMDs in Ethiopia, particularly in the Harari Regional State.

Methods A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 3,326 adolescents in the Harari Regional State, Eastern Ethiopia, utilizing a multistage sampling strategy stratified by locality and school type. Data were collected using validated scales adapted from previous studies, including the HFIAS for adolescent-level food insecurity, KIDSCREEN-10 for health-related quality of life, the Rosenberg Scale for self-esteem, and the SDQ-25 for CMDs.

Data were collected using a structured questionnaire translated into Amharic and Afan Oromo and pre-tested for validity. A guided self-administration approach was employed by eight trained BSc nurses and psychiatric nurses.

All data collectors and supervisors underwent rigorous training to ensure data quality.