STRESS LEVELS REGARDING COVID-19 PANDEMIC AMONG NURSING STUDENTS AT UNIVERSITY OF SULAIMANI, KURDISTAN REGION, IRAQ.

OBJECTIVE

The aim: The study aimed to assess prevalence levels of stress among undergraduate college of nursing students at university of Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region/Iraq.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Materials and methods: A total of 60 nursing students were selected from college of nursing Sulaimani University by convenience sampling used in their cross-sectional study. The perceived stress scale (PSS-10), and socio-demographic characteristics included in the self-reported questionnaire. The period of data collection started from October 25th, 2021 to November 25th, 2021. The data analysis performed by using SPSS version 25. Ethical approval was considered.

RESULTS

Results: The results of this study showed that the overall prevalence rate of stress was determined as 53.3 % of students at moderate level which was more prevalent among fresh man students within age 18-19 years old 93.4 %, while low level of stress observed among senior students within age 20-21 year old (25%) (p<0.01). The other socio-demographic factors were not associated with levels of stress. The finding indicated that 40% of the students were infected with covid-19 in last period while the pandemic is still ongoing.

CONCLUSION

Conclusions: nursing students were experienced moderate to low level of stress regarding covid-19 pandemic regardless of socio-demographic characteristic, only age factor significantly associated with the variance of stress.