Abstract: Background: Mental illness is an emerging public health concern in Rwanda. In response, the Ministry of Health developed a National Mental Health Strategic Plan to address common mental disorders. However, there remains limited evidence particularly from small urban areas such as Musanze Districtto guide mental health policy and strengthen service delivery. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of common mental disorders and identify associated psychosocial, clinical, and socio-economic factors among adolescents aged 18–19 years in Musanze District, Rwanda.
Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted among 384 adolescents aged 18–19 years, with complete responses obtained from 345 participants across 15 sectors of Musanze District. Participants were selected using a convenience sampling approach. Data were collected using a structured, self-administered questionnaire to capture socio-demographic, psychosocial, and clinical characteristics, while the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) Version 5.0.0 DSM-IV was used to assess the presence of common mental disorders. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. Descriptive statistics summarized participant characteristics, and multivariable binary logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with common mental disorders at a 95% confidence interval, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.
Results: The prevalence of common mental disorders among adolescents was 24.4%. Factors significantly associated with common mental disorders included being female, having a family history of mental illness, poor social support, a history of non-physical sexual abuse, and a history of physical sexual abuse (p < 0.05 for all).
Conclusion: The prevalence of common mental disorders among adolescents in Musanze District is considerably high. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted community-based and institutional interventions to address identified risk factors and strengthen adolescent mental health services in Rwanda.
Keywords: Common mental disorders; Adolescents; Prevalence; Psychosocial factors; Mental health; Musanze District; Rwanda.
Title: Prevalence of Common Mental Disorders and Related Factors among Adolescents in Age Between 18 To 19 in Musanze District, Rwanda: A Cross-Sectional Study
Author: Marie Davertone Kwizera, Jean Damascene Iyamuremye
International Journal of Healthcare Sciences
ISSN 2348-5728 (Online)
Vol. 13, Issue 2, October 2025 - March 2026
Page No: 284-292
Research Publish Journals
Website: www.researchpublish.com
Published Date: 14-November-2025
