The Manafwa watershed is the largest watershed on the slopes of Mountain Elgon in Eastern Uganda, with three districts (i.e., Bududa, Manafwa, and Butaleja), whose vulnerable communities have continuously been affected by natural disasters, mainly floods and landslides. Besides the high rate of mortality from these events, these natural disasters also leave homeless families and orphaned children, destroy farms, which serve as the main source of economic welfare, and leave long-lasting effects on mental health and wellbeing. The negative effects of COVID-19 were also disproportionately experienced by households and children in the vulnerable communities in the Manafwa watershed.

This study aimed to collect household-level data about the impact of COVID-19 on school enrollment and mental health of children in the watershed. Dr. Batte and his colleagues used a mixed-methods approach to determine school attendance before and after lockdown, as well as assess mental health and coping methods among students. They sought to conduct interviews with selected key informants from household heads, local leaders, and schoolteachers to collect qualitative data on perspectives, views, and opinions on the impact of COVID-19. This project aimed to provide crucial information on how schoolchildren dealt with natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic and guide the development of psychological support systems in schools to improve the overall experience of children.

Final Summary of Project Activities

The PEER team recruited and trained research assistants for the project. They collected enrollment and other data from schools in the three target districts, as well as held focus group discussions with students. The researchers found that 65% of adolescents in school had a current mental health challenge, with anxiety being the most prevalent. Significant gender differences were observed in anxiety, disruptive behavior, and negative self-concept, with female students reporting higher levels on all indicators. Middle-aged adolescents were more likely to use negative-emotion regulation, while early adolescents were found to employ distraction as a coping mechanism more often.

The findings of this study highlighted the significant prevalence of mental health challenges among school-going adolescents. Understanding the prevalence and specific types of mental health challenges provided valuable insights for educators, parents, and mental health professionals to tailor interventions and support services. The findings also call for tailored support mechanisms to address the unique needs and challenges faced by both male and female students, as well as different intervention strategies around identification of substance abuse problems.

The team members disseminated their results during the Health and Climate Change symposium 2023 organized by Tree Adoption Uganda, the Ministry of Health, and the World Health Organization, which was attended by more than 100 professionals, including government officials, NGOs, youth organizations and health practitioners. They have developed manuscript drafts on their findings for future publication.

The researchers have also connected with the administrative and educational boards of the target districts, and who have expressed interest in the results of the study and are willing to implement changes. The PEER team plans to continue collaborating with their U.S. partner on future manuscripts and the formulation of new research projects.