Mental health impacts of COVID-19 on healthcare workers in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: a multi-country study.

Journal: Journal of public health (Oxford, England)

Volume: 43

Issue: Suppl 3

Year of Publication: 2021

Affiliated Institutions:  Ministry of Public Health and Population, Yemen Field Epidemiology Training Program, Sana'a, Yemen. Department of Community and Family Medicine, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq. Global Health Development (GHD), The Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network (EMPHNET), Amman, Jordan. Directorate of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Baghdad, Iraq. Ministry of Health and Population, Cairo, Egypt. Professor of Epidemiology, Medical Education and Biostatistics, Department of Public Health, Jordan University of Science & Technology, Irbid , Jordan. Public Health Institute, Federal Ministry of Health, Department of Research, Khartoum, Sudan. National Institute of Health, Islamabad, Pakistan. Yusra Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Yusra Medical and Dental Collage, Islamabad, Pakistan. Somali International University, Somal. Epidemic Diseases Service, Ministry of Health, Rabat, Morocco. Department of Community Medicine, Al-Majmaah University, AL-Majmaah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Health Protection and Promotion, Global Health Development (GHD), Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network, Amman, Jordan. Clinical Pharmacy, Public and Tropical Health Programs, University of Medical Sciences & Technology, Khartoum, Sudan. Demartino Hospital, Somalia. Medical Unit Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Rawalpindi Medical University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Afghanistan Field Epidemiology Training Program, Global Health Development (GHD), Afghanistan. Al-Rusafa Health Directorate, Public Health Department, Ministry of Health, Baghdad, Iraq.

Abstract summary 

Healthcare workers (HCWs) fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic are under incredible pressure, which puts them at risk of developing mental health problems. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among HCWs responding to COVID-19 and its associated factors.A multi-country cross-sectional study was conducted during July-August 2020 among HCWs responding to COVID-19 in nine Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) countries. Data were collected using an online questionnaire administered using KoBo Toolbox. Mental problems were assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21).A total of 1448 HCWs from nine EMR countries participated in this study. About 51.2% were male and 52.7% aged ≤ 30 years. Of all HCWs, 57.5% had depression, 42.0% had stress, and 59.1% had anxiety. Considering the severity, 19.2%, 16.1%, 26.6% of patients had severe to extremely severe depression, stress, and anxiety, respectively. Depression, stress, anxiety, and distress scores were significantly associated with participants' residency, having children, preexisting psychiatric illness, and being isolated for COVID-19. Furthermore, females, those working in a teaching hospital, and specialists had significantly higher depression and stress scores. Married status, current smoking, diabetes mellitus, having a friend who died with COVID-19, and high COVID-19 worry scores were significantly associated with higher distress scores.Mental problems were prevalent among HCWs responding to COVID-19 in EMR. Therefore, special interventions to promote mental well-being among HCWs responding to COVID-19 need to be immediately implemented.

Authors & Co-authors:  Ghaleb Yasser Y Lami Faris F Al Nsour Mohannad M Rashak Hiba Abdulrahman HA Samy Sahar S Khader Yousef S YS Al Serouri Abdulwahed A BahaaEldin Hala H Afifi Salma S Elfadul Maisa M Ikram Aamer A Akhtar Hashaam H Hussein Ahmed Mohamud AM Barkia Abdelaziz A Hakim Huda H Taha Hana Ahmad HA Hijjo Yasser Y Kamal Ehab E Ahmed Abdirizak Yusuf AY Rahman Fazalur F Islam Khwaja Mir KM Hussein Moshtaq Hassan MH Ramzi Shahd Raid SR

Study Outcome 

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Citations :  Jones  DS. History in a crisis - lessons for covid-19. N Engl J Med  2020;382(18):1681–3.
Authors :  23
Identifiers
Doi : 10.1093/pubmed/fdab321
SSN : 1741-3850
Study Population
Male
Mesh Terms
Anxiety
Other Terms
COVID-19;associated factors;depression;died;stress;stressanxiety
Study Design
Study Approach
Country of Study
Publication Country
England