Assessment of Mental Health and Academic Performance among Medical Students during the 2023–2024 Conflict in Sudan

Abstract

Context: Sudan’s 2023–2024 conflict disrupted education and healthcare systems, affecting students’ mental health and academic continuity.

Objective: This study aims to assess the effects of recent conflicts in Sudan on the mental health and academic life of medical students of University of Medical Sciences and Technology and University of Khartoum in 2024.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed 255 fourth- and fifth-year medical students from two universities from April to July 2024 using validated Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scales. Participants completed online surveys evaluating depression, anxiety, and academic performance during peak conflict months. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27, with descriptive statistics for continuous and categorical variables, group comparisons via chi-square and t-tests, and multivariable logistic regression to identify predictors of mental health outcomes, adjusting for age, gender, and institution, with significance set at P <0.05.

Results: The prevalence of depressive symptoms reached 42.4% (mild: 26.6%, moderate: 11.5%, severe: 4.3%), with anxiety symptoms present in 81.2% of respondents (mild: 55.2%, moderate: 21.9%, severe: 4.1%). Female students demonstrated significantly higher depression rates than males (OR=2.3, 95% CI 1.4-3.8, P =0.012). Academically, 51.8% reported conflict-induced performance declines, primarily due to motivation loss (77.5%) and concentration difficulties (53.5%). Both depression and anxiety were significantly more prevalent among students with GPAs below 3.0 (P < 0.001, P =0.015).

Conclusion: Sudanese medical students are experiencing mental health crisis levels during active conflict, with severe academic consequences. These findings underscore the need for urgent, context-specific support systems in war-affected medical schools.