Sleep quality and associated factors in people with schizophrenia in Northwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of poor sleep quality and its determinants in people with schizophrenia in Northwest Ethiopia.

Institutional-based cross-sectional study design.

University of Gondar, Comprehensive and Specialized Hospital, Gondar, Ethiopia.

A total of 405 people with schizophrenia attending outpatient treatment at University of Gondar, Comprehensive and Specialized Hospital were recruited in this study employing systematic random sampling technique from 1 April to 30 May 2024.

An interviewer-administered questionnaire and chart review were used to collect the data. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Clinical Global Impression-Schizophrenia Scale, Glasgow Antipsychotic Side-Effects Scale, Medication Adherence Report Scale and Oslo Social Support Scale were used. A binary logistic regression was employed to measure the association of poor sleep quality and its determinants and variables with a p value of <0.05 were declared statistically significant and adjusted OR with 95% CIs were computed.

The overall prevalence of poor sleep quality in people with schizophrenia was found to be 58.3% with a 95% CI 53.38 to 63. Age less than 45 years (adjusted OR (AOR)=2.1, 95% CI 1.2 to 3.7), poor and moderate social support (AOR=10, 95% CI 5.7 to 17.8 and AOR=4.7, 95% CI 2.5 to 8.8), poor medication adherence (AOR=1.9, 95% CI 1.8 to 3.1) and a family history of mental illness (AOR=1.9, 95% CI 1.2 to 3.3) were significantly associated with poor sleep quality in this study.

This study revealed that around six in 10 people with schizophrenia experience poor sleep quality. Therefore, healthcare providers should routinely screen people with schizophrenia for sleep and consider targeted interventions to achieve the ultimate goal of treatment process.