Psychological distress among healthcare workers accessing occupational health services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe.

Journal: Comprehensive psychiatry

Volume: 116

Issue: 

Year of Publication: 2022

Affiliated Institutions:  Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe; Institute of Global Health, University College London, London, UK. Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe; Centre for Global Health, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK. Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe. Counselling Services Unit, Harare, Zimbabwe. Parirenyatwa Hospital, Harare, Zimbabwe. Sally Mugabe Central Hospital, Harare, Zimbabwe. Chitungwiza Hospital, Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe. Harare City Health, Harare, Zimbabwe. Internal Medicine Unit, University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences, Harare, Zimbabwe. Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences, Harare, Zimbabwe. Department of Community Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe. Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe; Clinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK. Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe; International Statistics and Epidemiology Group, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK. Electronic address: Victoria.simms@lshtm.ac.uk. Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe; Clinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK; Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Medical Center of the University of Munich, Munich, Germany.

Abstract summary 

Healthcare workers (HCWs) have experienced anxiety and psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. We established and report findings from an occupational health programme for HCWs in Zimbabwe that offered screening for SARS-CoV-2 with integrated screening for comorbidities including common mental disorder (CMD) and referral for counselling.Quantitative outcomes were fearfulness about COVID-19, the Shona Symptom Questionnaire (SSQ-14) score (cutpoint 8/14) and the number and proportion of HCWs offered referral for counselling, accepting referral and counselled. We used chi square tests to identify factors associated with fearfulness, and logistic regression was used to model the association of fearfulness with wave, adjusting for variables identified using a DAG. Qualitative data included 18 in-depth interviews, two workshops conducted with HCWs and written feedback from counsellors, analysed concurrently with data collection using thematic analysis.Between 27 July 2020-31 July 2021, spanning three SARS-CoV-2 waves, the occupational health programme was accessed by 3577 HCWs from 22 facilities. The median age was 37 (IQR 30-43) years, 81.9% were women, 41.7% said they felt fearful about COVID-19 and 12.1% had an SSQ-14 score ≥ 8. A total of 501 HCWs were offered referral for counselling, 78.4% accepted and 68.9% had ≥1 counselling session. Adjusting for setting and role, wave 2 was associated with increased fearfulness over wave 1 (OR = 1.26, 95% CI 1.00-1.60). Qualitative data showed high levels of anxiety, psychosomatic symptoms and burnout related to the pandemic. Mental wellbeing was affected by financial insecurity, unmet physical health needs and inability to provide quality care within a fragile health system.HCWs in Zimbabwe experience a high burden of mental health symptoms, intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic. Sustainable mental health interventions must be multisectoral addressing mental, physical and financial wellbeing.

Authors & Co-authors:  Chingono Rudo M S RMS Nzvere Farirayi P FP Marambire Edson T ET Makwembere Mirriam M Mhembere Nesbert N Herbert Tania T Maunganidze Aspect J V AJV Pasi Christopher C Chiwanga Michael M Chonzi Prosper P Ndhlovu Chiratidzo E CE Mujuru Hilda H Rusakaniko Simbarashe S Olaru Ioana D ID Ferrand Rashida A RA Simms Victoria V Kranzer Katharina K

Study Outcome 

Source Link: Visit source

Statistics
Citations :  Serafini G., Parmigiani B., Amerio A., Aguglia A., Sher L., Amore M. The psychological impact of COVID-19 on the mental health in the general population. Qjm. 2020;113:531–537.
Authors :  17
Identifiers
Doi : 10.1016/j.comppsych.2022.152321
SSN : 1532-8384
Study Population
Male,Female
Mesh Terms
Adult
Other Terms
Anxiety;COVID-19;Mental health;Occupational health
Study Design
Study Approach
,Qualitative
Country of Study
Zimbabwe
Publication Country
United States