{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,2]],"date-time":"2026-06-02T22:15:32Z","timestamp":1780438532272,"version":"3.54.1"},"reference-count":0,"publisher":"African Journals Online (AJOL)","issue":"4","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Afr H. Sci."],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Three-quarters of all mental health problems begins between 10-24 years. When not treated, adolescents and young people with mental health problems are at high risk of abuse, suicide, and substance use, which have long-term consequences that negatively impact physical, and economic productivity. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of mental health problems among secondary school students 10-24 years in the Kilimanjaro region, northern Tanzania.\r\nMethodology: We utilized secondary data from two repeated cross-sectional surveys conducted in 2019 and 2022 among students aged 10-24 years in the Kilimanjaro region, northern Tanzania. A chi-square test was used to compare mental health problem proportions by survey year and other participant characteristics. Multivariable logistic regression estimated odds ratios and 95% confidence interval to determine factors associated with mental health problems.\r\nResults: The median age of 4955 study participants was 15 (14, 17), 64% were 15-19 years, 53.9% were females, and 65% participated in survey 1. The overall prevalence of mental health problems was 29.2% (survey 1; 27.4% and survey 2; 32.6%). Overall, higher odds of mental health problems were among students aged 20-24 years than those aged 10-14 years, among females, currently using any substances, ever had sex, ever been physically attacked, ever been bullied, and those ever-missed classes.\r\nConclusion: Mental health problems are highly prevalent among secondary school adolescents and young people in the Kilimanjaro region and were common among those aged 20-24 years, females, final year students, current substance users, history of having sex, ever missed classes, and being bullied. In-school programs for mental health issues awareness among students should be improved.\r\nKeywords: Mental health problems; adolescents; young people; Global School-based Student Health Survey; Regional School-based Student Health Survey; Kilimanjaro; Tanzania.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.4314\/ahs.v25i4.20","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,9]],"date-time":"2025-12-09T10:12:09Z","timestamp":1765275129000},"page":"191-200","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Mental health problems among secondary school students 10-24 years in Kilimanjaro region, Northern Tanzania"],"prefix":"10.4314","volume":"25","author":[{"given":"Jackline","family":"T Shirima","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"James","family":"Samwel Ngocho","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lisbeth","family":"Mhando","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Rehema","family":"A Mavura","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Innocent","family":"B Mboya","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"2895","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,5]]},"container-title":["African Health Sciences"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.ajol.info\/index.php\/ahs\/article\/download\/312051\/293547","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.ajol.info\/index.php\/ahs\/article\/download\/312051\/293547","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,9]],"date-time":"2025-12-09T10:12:10Z","timestamp":1765275130000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.ajol.info\/index.php\/ahs\/article\/view\/312051"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,5]]},"references-count":0,"journal-issue":{"issue":"4","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,5]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4314\/ahs.v25i4.20","relation":{},"ISSN":["1729-0503","1680-6905"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1729-0503","type":"electronic"},{"value":"1680-6905","type":"print"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,5]]}}}