{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,15]],"date-time":"2026-04-15T05:26:36Z","timestamp":1776230796801,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":30,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,26]],"date-time":"2025-11-26T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1764115200000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,30]],"date-time":"2025-12-30T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1767052800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":34,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["BMC Gastroenterol"],"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder of gut-brain interaction, yet data from sub-Saharan Africa remain limited. In Ethiopia, evidence on IBS among medical students is particularly limited, despite this group\u2019s high exposure to academic and psychosocial stressors.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Objectives<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>To estimate the prevalence of IBS among Ethiopian medical students and to examine its demographic, lifestyle, and psychological correlates.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted between 1 June and 31 August 2024 among undergraduate medical students from eleven Ethiopian universities. Participants completed a self-administered online questionnaire incorporating the Rome IV criteria for IBS and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Descriptive statistics summarized participant characteristics. A mixed-effects logistic regression with a random intercept for university was used to assess associations between IBS and prespecified predictors (sex, anxiety, and depression). Wald odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported. Sensitivity analyses used Firth penalised logistic regression, exclusion of small clusters, and binary recoding of HADS categories. Model discrimination and calibration were assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and calibration slope and intercept.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      A total of 290 medical students participated (mean age\u2009=\u200923 years). Twenty students met the Rome IV criteria for IBS, corresponding to a prevalence of 6.9% (95% CI 4.2\u201310.4). In the adjusted model, anxiety classified as \u201ccase\u201d was associated with higher odds of IBS (OR 7.25, 95% CI 1.83\u201328.72;\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009&lt;\u20090.01). Borderline anxiety, depression (borderline or case), and female sex were not statistically significant. Sensitivity analyses produced similar estimates. The model showed acceptable discrimination (AUC\u2009=\u20090.78; optimism-corrected AUC\u2009=\u20090.73) and good calibration (intercept\u2009=\u20090.00; slope\u2009=\u20091.00).\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The prevalence of IBS among Ethiopian medical students was 6.9%. Anxiety was statistically associated with IBS, whereas depression and sex were not. The findings highlight the presence of IBS and psychological correlates among this population. Broader longitudinal research could further clarify the epidemiology and psychosocial factors related to IBS in Ethiopian medical students.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1186\/s12876-025-04415-8","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,26]],"date-time":"2025-11-26T12:06:17Z","timestamp":1764158777000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Prevalence and associated factors of irritable bowel syndrome among medical students in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study"],"prefix":"10.1186","volume":"25","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3900-7982","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Elias Tafesse","family":"Yeshitila","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Nanati Jemal","family":"Aliye","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Abdulsemed","family":"Mohammed Nur","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Mengistu","family":"Yilma","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,26]]},"reference":[{"key":"4415_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1377","DOI":"10.1053\/j.gastro.2006.03.008","volume":"130","author":"DA Drossman","year":"2006","unstructured":"Drossman DA, Corazziari E, Delvaux M. The functional Gastrointestinal disorders and the Rome. III Process Gastroenterol. 2006;130:1377\u201390. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1053\/j.gastro.2006.03.008.","journal-title":"III Process Gastroenterol"},{"key":"4415_CR2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"99","DOI":"10.1053\/j.gastro.2020.04.014","volume":"160","author":"AD Sperber","year":"2021","unstructured":"Sperber AD, Bangdiwala SI, Drossman DA, et al. Worldwide prevalence and burden of functional Gastrointestinal Disorders, results of Rome foundation global study. Gastroenterology. 2021;160:99\u2013e1143. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1053\/j.gastro.2020.04.014.","journal-title":"Gastroenterology"},{"key":"4415_CR3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1257","DOI":"10.1053\/j.gastro.2016.03.035","volume":"150","author":"DA Drossman","year":"2016","unstructured":"Drossman DA, Hasler WL. Rome IV\u2014Functional GI disorders: disorders of Gut-Brain interaction. Gastroenterology. 2016;150:1257\u201361. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1053\/j.gastro.2016.03.035.","journal-title":"Gastroenterology"},{"key":"4415_CR4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"99","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm6110099","volume":"6","author":"BE Lacy","year":"2017","unstructured":"Lacy BE, Patel NK. Rome criteria and a diagnostic approach to irritable bowel syndrome. J Clin Med. 2017;6:99. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/jcm6110099.","journal-title":"J Clin Med"},{"key":"4415_CR5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"14","DOI":"10.1097\/00004836-200207000-00005","volume":"35","author":"RP Patel","year":"2002","unstructured":"Patel RP, Petitta A, Fogel R, Peterson E, Zarowitz BJ. The economic impact of irritable bowel syndrome in a managed care setting. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2002;35:14\u201320. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1097\/00004836-200207000-00005.","journal-title":"J Clin Gastroenterol"},{"key":"4415_CR6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"136","DOI":"10.23736\/S1121-421X.19.02640-0","volume":"66","author":"I Masuy","year":"2020","unstructured":"Masuy I, Pannemans J, Tack J. Irritable bowel syndrome: diagnosis and management. Minerva Gastroenterol Dietol. 2020;66:136\u201350. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.23736\/S1121-421X.19.02640-0.","journal-title":"Minerva Gastroenterol Dietol"},{"key":"4415_CR7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"712","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cgh.2012.02.029","volume":"10","author":"RM Lovell","year":"2012","unstructured":"Lovell RM, Ford AC. Global prevalence of and risk factors for irritable bowel syndrome: A Meta-analysis. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2012;10:712\u2013e7214. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.cgh.2012.02.029.","journal-title":"Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol"},{"key":"4415_CR8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"14126","DOI":"10.3748\/wjg.v20.i39.14126","volume":"20","author":"H-Y Qin","year":"2014","unstructured":"Qin H-Y, Cheng C-W, Tang X-D, Bian Z-X. Impact of psychological stress on irritable bowel syndrome. World J Gastroenterol WJG. 2014;20:14126\u201331. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3748\/wjg.v20.i39.14126.","journal-title":"World J Gastroenterol WJG"},{"key":"4415_CR9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"907","DOI":"10.4065\/75.9.907","volume":"75","author":"GR Locke","year":"2000","unstructured":"Locke GR, Zinsmeister AR, Talley NJ, Fett SL, Melton LJ. Familial association in adults with functional Gastrointestinal disorders. Mayo Clin Proc. 2000;75:907\u201312. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4065\/75.9.907.","journal-title":"Mayo Clin Proc"},{"key":"4415_CR10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"299","DOI":"10.14238\/pi61.6.2021.299-305","volume":"61","author":"M Kadim","year":"2021","unstructured":"Kadim M, Tantri AR, Ramadani MI. Prevalence and risk factors of irritable bowel syndrome in adolescents. Paediatr Indones. 2021;61:299\u2013305. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.14238\/pi61.6.2021.299-305.","journal-title":"Paediatr Indones"},{"key":"4415_CR11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"47","DOI":"10.5056\/jnm.2010.16.1.47","volume":"16","author":"SY Nam","year":"2010","unstructured":"Nam SY, Kim BC, Ryu KH, Park BJ. Prevalence and risk factors of irritable bowel syndrome in healthy screenee undergoing colonoscopy and laboratory tests. J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2010;16:47\u201351. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.5056\/jnm.2010.16.1.47.","journal-title":"J Neurogastroenterol Motil"},{"key":"4415_CR12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e54183","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0054183","volume":"8","author":"Y-Y Dong","year":"2013","unstructured":"Dong Y-Y, Chen F-X, Yu Y-B, Du C, Qi Q-Q, Liu H, Li Y-Q. A School-Based study with Rome III criteria on the prevalence of functional Gastrointestinal disorders in Chinese college and university students. PLoS ONE. 2013;8:e54183. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0054183.","journal-title":"PLoS ONE"},{"key":"4415_CR13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"32","DOI":"10.11604\/pamj.2022.41.311.28228","volume":"41","author":"SME Sharawy","year":"2022","unstructured":"Sharawy SME, Amer IF, Elkadeem MZ. Irritable bowel syndrome in Egyptian medical students, prevalence and associated factors: a cross-sectional study. Pan Afr Med J. 2022;41:32. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.11604\/pamj.2022.41.311.28228.","journal-title":"Pan Afr Med J"},{"key":"4415_CR14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"123","DOI":"10.11604\/pamj.2018.31.123.16336","volume":"31","author":"J Sehonou","year":"2018","unstructured":"Sehonou J, Dodo LRS. Profil clinique et facteurs associ\u00e9s Au syndrome de l\u2019intestin irritable Chez les \u00e9tudiants En m\u00e9decine \u00e0 Cotonou, B\u00e9nin. Pan Afr Med J. 2018;31:123. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.11604\/pamj.2018.31.123.16336.","journal-title":"Pan Afr Med J"},{"key":"4415_CR15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2082029","DOI":"10.1080\/19932820.2022.2082029","volume":"17","author":"S Gallas","year":"2022","unstructured":"Gallas S, Knaz H, Methnani J, Maatallah Kanzali M, Koukane A, Bedoui MH, Latiri I. Prevalence and risk factors of functional Gastrointestinal disorders in early period medical students: a pilot study in Tunisia. Libyan J Med. 2022;17:2082029. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/19932820.2022.2082029.","journal-title":"Libyan J Med"},{"key":"4415_CR16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"983","DOI":"10.1007\/BF02064186","volume":"40","author":"IO Olubuyide","year":"1995","unstructured":"Olubuyide IO, Olawuyi F, Fasanmade AA. A study of irritable bowel syndrome diagnosed by manning criteria in an African population. Dig Dis Sci. 1995;40:983\u20135. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/BF02064186.","journal-title":"Dig Dis Sci"},{"key":"4415_CR17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.21203\/rs.3.rs-4423523\/v1","author":"SB Mengistu","year":"2024","unstructured":"Mengistu SB, Asnakew MM, Eskinder M, et al. Prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome and associated factors among medical students at the university of Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia, 2023. Published Online First: 30 May. 2024. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.21203\/rs.3.rs-4423523\/v1.","journal-title":"Published Online First: 30 May"},{"issue":"6","key":"4415_CR18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"361","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1600-0447.1983.tb09716.x","volume":"67","author":"A Zigmond","year":"1983","unstructured":"Zigmond A, Snaith RP. The hospital anxiety and depression scale. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1983;67(6):361\u201370. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/j.1600-0447.1983.tb09716.x.","journal-title":"Acta Psychiatr Scand"},{"key":"4415_CR19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"29","DOI":"10.1186\/1477-7525-1-29","volume":"1","author":"RP Snaith","year":"2003","unstructured":"Snaith RP. The hospital anxiety and depression scale. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2003;1:29. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/1477-7525-1-29.","journal-title":"Health Qual Life Outcomes"},{"key":"4415_CR20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1203","DOI":"10.4103\/ijo.IJO_436_17","volume":"65","author":"P Rishi","year":"2017","unstructured":"Rishi P, Rishi E, Maitray A, Agarwal A, Nair S, Gopalakrishnan S. Hospital anxiety and depression scale assessment of 100 patients before and after using low vision care: A prospective study in a tertiary eye-care setting. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2017;65:1203\u20138. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4103\/ijo.IJO_436_17.","journal-title":"Indian J Ophthalmol"},{"key":"4415_CR21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"23","DOI":"10.1186\/s42506-019-0023-8","volume":"94","author":"D Elhosseiny","year":"2019","unstructured":"Elhosseiny D, Mahmoud NE, Manzour AF. Factors associated with irritable bowel syndrome among medical students at Ain Shams university. J Egypt Public Health Assoc. 2019;94:23. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s42506-019-0023-8.","journal-title":"J Egypt Public Health Assoc"},{"key":"4415_CR22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1341809","DOI":"10.3389\/fmed.2024.1341809","volume":"11","author":"PP Quiroga-Casta\u00f1eda","year":"2024","unstructured":"Quiroga-Casta\u00f1eda PP, Berrios-Villegas I, Valladares-Garrido D, Vera-Ponce VJ, Zila-Velasque JP, Pereira-Victorio CJ, Valladares-Garrido MJ. Irritable bowel syndrome in medical students at a Peruvian university: a cross-sectional study. Front Med. 2024;11:1341809. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fmed.2024.1341809.","journal-title":"Front Med"},{"key":"4415_CR23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1315","DOI":"10.1097\/JTO.0b013e3181ec173d","volume":"5","author":"JN Mandrekar","year":"2010","unstructured":"Mandrekar JN. Receiver operating characteristic curve in diagnostic test assessment. J Thorac Oncol. 2010;5:1315\u20136. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1097\/JTO.0b013e3181ec173d.","journal-title":"J Thorac Oncol"},{"key":"4415_CR24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"908","DOI":"10.1016\/S2468-1253(20)30217-X","volume":"5","author":"P Oka","year":"2020","unstructured":"Oka P, Parr H, Barberio B, Black CJ, Savarino EV, Ford AC. Global prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome according to Rome III or IV criteria: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2020;5:908\u201317. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/S2468-1253(20)30217-X.","journal-title":"Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol"},{"key":"4415_CR25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"256","DOI":"10.4236\/ojgas.2023.137024","volume":"13","author":"K Sak\u00e9","year":"2023","unstructured":"Sak\u00e9 K, Kpossou AR, Alassani AC, et al. Contribution to the study of irritable bowel syndrome in medical students at the university of Parakou in Republic of Benin. Open J Gastroenterol. 2023;13:256\u201366. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4236\/ojgas.2023.137024.","journal-title":"Open J Gastroenterol"},{"key":"4415_CR26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Ali A, Shah A, Amina A et al. Prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome symptoms and associated risk factors among medical students. Cureus 17:e82900. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.7759\/cureus.82900","DOI":"10.7759\/cureus.82900"},{"key":"4415_CR27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"30","DOI":"10.1186\/s13033-022-00540-z","volume":"16","author":"E Girma","year":"2022","unstructured":"Girma E, Ketema B, Mulatu T, et al. Mental health stigma and discrimination in ethiopia: evidence synthesis to inform stigma reduction interventions. Int J Ment Health Syst. 2022;16:30. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s13033-022-00540-z.","journal-title":"Int J Ment Health Syst"},{"key":"4415_CR28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Shree V, Prasad RR, Kumar S, Sinha S, Choudhary SK. Study on consumption of fast food among medical students of IGIMS, Patna. Int J Community Med Public Health. 2018;5:2750. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.18203\/2394-6040.ijcmph20182416.","DOI":"10.18203\/2394-6040.ijcmph20182416"},{"key":"4415_CR29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"261","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1745-7599.2007.00223.x","volume":"19","author":"MD Barakzai","year":"2007","unstructured":"Barakzai MD, Gregory J, Fraser D. The effect of culture on symptom reporting: Hispanics and irritable bowel syndrome. J Am Acad Nurse Pract. 2007;19:261\u20137. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/j.1745-7599.2007.00223.x.","journal-title":"J Am Acad Nurse Pract"},{"key":"4415_CR30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1344","DOI":"10.1053\/j.gastro.2016.02.013","volume":"150","author":"CF Francisconi","year":"2016","unstructured":"Francisconi CF, Sperber AD, Fang X, Fukudo S, Gerson M-J, Kang J-Y, Schmulson M. Multicultural aspects in functional Gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs). Gastroenterology. 2016;150:1344\u2013e13542. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1053\/j.gastro.2016.02.013.","journal-title":"Gastroenterology"}],"container-title":["BMC Gastroenterology"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1186\/s12876-025-04415-8.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1186\/s12876-025-04415-8","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1186\/s12876-025-04415-8.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,30]],"date-time":"2025-12-30T01:54:55Z","timestamp":1767059695000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/10.1186\/s12876-025-04415-8"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,26]]},"references-count":30,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,12]]}},"alternative-id":["4415"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12876-025-04415-8","relation":{"has-preprint":[{"id-type":"doi","id":"10.21203\/rs.3.rs-7401772\/v1","asserted-by":"object"}]},"ISSN":["1471-230X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1471-230X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,26]]},"assertion":[{"value":"18 August 2025","order":1,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"21 October 2025","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"26 November 2025","order":3,"name":"first_online","label":"First Online","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"order":1,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}},{"value":"This study was conducted in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee and with the Helsinki Declaration. Ethical approval was obtained from Addis Ababa University Internal Medicine Department Review Board, and informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to data collection. Informed consent was obtained electronically at the start of the questionnaire after providing an explanation of the study\u2019s purpose.","order":2,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"<!--Emphasis Type='Bold' removed-->Ethics approval and consent to participate"}},{"value":"Not applicable.","order":3,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Consent for publication"}},{"value":"The authors declare no competing interests.","order":4,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Competing interests"}}],"article-number":"886"}}