Estimation of Mental Disorders Prevalence in High School Students Using Small Area Methods: A Hierarchical Bayesian Approach

Background: Adolescence is one of the most important periods in the course of human evolution and the prevalence of mental disorders among adolescence in different regions of Iran, especially in southern Iran. Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of mental disorders among high school students in Bushehr province, south of Iran. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, ۲۸۶ high school students were recruited by a multi-stage random sampling in Bushehr province in ۲۰۱۵. A general health questionnaire (GHQ-۲۸) was used to assess mental disorders. The small area method, under the hierarchical Bayesian approach, was used to determine the prevalence of mental disorders and data analysis. Results: From ۲۸۶ questionnaires only ۱۸۲ were completely filed and evaluated (the response rate was ۷۰.۵%). Of the students, ۵۸.۷۹% and ۴۱.۲۱% were male and female, respectively. Of all students, the prevalence of mental disorders in Bushehr, Dayyer, Deylam, Kangan, Dashtestan, Tangestan, Genaveh, and Dashty were ۰.۴۸, ۰.۴۲, ۰.۴۵, ۰.۵۲, ۰.۴۱, ۰.۴۷, ۰.۴۲, and ۰.۴۳, respectively. Conclusions: Based on this study, the prevalence of mental disorders among adolescents was increasing in Bushehr Province counties. The lack of a national policy in this way is a serious obstacle to mental health and wellbeing access.

Keywords:

Small Area Technique , Hierarchical Bayesian , Mental Disorders , Adolscent