Levels of Depression, Anxiety, and Psychological Distress Among Ugandan Adults During the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-sectional Evidence from a Mobile Phone-based Population Survey.

The study found that 29.2% of the participants experienced moderate psychological distress, with 12.1% reporting severe distress. Factors such as difficulty accessing medical care, worries about COVID-19, concerns about interactions with police during lockdown measures, and spending more time at home were associated with higher levels of distress. The findings highlight the urgent need to address the mental health consequences of the pandemic and consider mental health in policy responses, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).