Attitude and practices about the coronavirus disease and its’ impact on the mental well-being on university students: a cross-sectional study amongst pharmacy students in the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Abstract

Student mental health at a tertiary level of education has become a growing concern since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. University students in South Africa face academic challenges as well as a cascade of socio-economic challenges making them more at risk for anxiety and depression. The restrictions, and challenges that COVID-19 brought has intensified these risks. The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological well-being of South African university students has a major role to play in analyzing the future implications for the populations’ mental health. The steps that were taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19 including lockdown measures, social distancing and quarantine have introduced significant threats to the mental health of the public at large. The current study aims to determine the attitude, practices impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of Pharmacy students at University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). Method This study was designed to be a cross-sectional quantitative study which was carried out as a survey questionnaire to fulfil the required objectives. Data was collected via a survey questionnaire; hard copies of the survey were distributed to third-and-fourth year pharmacy students at UKZN once on-site learning at the campus resumed after a period of remote learning as a result of COVID-19. The data was entered into Microsoft® Excel® and analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Science® (SPSS®), version 28. Descriptive and inferential statistics were calculated, the results were discussed, and conclusions were drawn. Results A total of 190 participants completed the survey. There were no exclusions as all the participants were over the age of 18 and were studying in third- or fourth-year pharmacy at UKZN. Majority of the participants (72.5%) perceived the COVID-19 virus as a threat to their community and 83% of students felt scared towards the COVID-19 pandemic. Increased levels of anxiety, loneliness, depression, and substance abuse was also reported. Most students found trouble concentrating (75.9%), which impacts academic and daily functioning and 77.6% found that the lockdown had a negative impact on their academic experience. Conclusion The current study was able to provide a comprehensive assessment of the attitudes and practices about the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) and its’ impact on the mental well-being on university students amongst pharmacy students in the University of KwaZulu-Natal. The findings suggest that the Covid-19 outbreak has globally introduced many hurdles for tertiary education institutions and challenges for students’ mental health. A variety of factors that are linked to the pandemic such as financial difficulty, a weakened social circle, trouble sleeping, fear of contracting the virus, trouble concentrating, and loneliness have increased anxiety and stress among university students. The study also reports a thorough analysis of the students and their range of feelings during the pandemic and consequent lockdown to evaluate their energy levels, prepotent feelings and challenges faced as a result. Our findings highlight that most participants displayed negative feelings and experienced many challenges as a result of the lockdown. In light of these findings, it is imperative that proactive measures are implemented to address the mental health concerns of students. Such efforts should not only encompass addressing the immediate challenges posed by the pandemic but also address the pre-existing vulnerabilities that have been exacerbated. By recognizing the multifaceted nature of these challenges and the diverse emotional responses they elicit, institutions and governments can work in tandem to provide comprehensive support systems that aid students in navigating these unprecedented times.