Journal Article

Mental health impacts among health workers during COVID-19 in a low resource setting: a cross-sectional survey from Nepal

Devkota, Navin, Dahal, Minakshi, Paudel, Kiran, Joshi, Devavrat, Khanal, Pratik

2020

Overview

Background Health care workers exposed to COVID-19 might be at increased risk of developing mental health problems. The study aimed to identify factors associated with anxiety, depression and insomnia among health workers involved in COVID-19 response in Nepal. Methods This was a cross-sectional web-based survey conducted between April 26 and May 12, 2020. A total of 475 health workers participated in the study. Anxiety and depression were measured using a 14-item Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS: 0–21) and insomnia was measured by using a 7-item Insomnia Severity Index (ISI: 0–28). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was done to determine the risk factors of mental health outcomes. Results Overall, 41.9% of health workers had symptoms of anxiety, 37.5% had depression symptoms and 33.9% had symptoms of insomnia. Stigma faced by health workers was significantly associated with higher odds of experiencing symptoms of anxiety (AOR: 2.47; 95% CI: 1.62–3.76), depression (AOR: 2.05; 95% CI: 1.34–3.11) and insomnia (AOR: 2.37; 95% CI: 1.46–3.84). History of medication for mental health problems was significantly associated with a higher likelihood of experiencing symptoms of anxiety (AOR: 3.40; 95% CI:1.31–8.81), depression (AOR: 3.83; 95% CI: 1.45–10.14) and insomnia (AOR: 3.82; 95% CI: 1.52–9.62) while inadequate precautionary measures in the workplace was significantly associated with higher odds of exhibiting symptoms of anxiety (AOR: 1.89; 95% CI: 1.12–3.19) and depression (AOR: 1.97; 95% CI: 1.16–3.37). Nurses (AOR: 2.33; 95% CI: 1.21–4.47) were significantly more likely to experience anxiety symptoms than other health workers. Conclusion The study findings revealed a considerate proportion of anxiety, depression and insomnia symptoms among health workers during the early phase of the pandemic in Nepal. Health workers facing stigma, those with history of medication for mental health problems, and those reporting inadequate precautionary measures in their workplace were more at risk of developing mental health outcomes. A focus on improving mental wellbeing of health workers should be immediately initiated with attention to reduction of stigma, ensuring an adequate support system such as personal protective equipments, and family support for those with history of mental health problems.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: Adult / Age / Anxiety / Anxiety - epidemiology / Chronic illnesses / Coronavirus Infections - epidemiology / Coronavirus Infections - therapy / Coronaviruses / COVID-19 / Cross-Sectional Studies / Data collection / Depression / Depression (Mood disorder) / Depression - epidemiology / Development Economics / Employee development / Epidemiology / Ethnicity / Female / Health aspects / Health facilities / Health Personnel - psychology / Health Personnel - statistics & numerical data / Health problems / Health Services Research / Health systems / Health workers / Hospitals / Humans / Insomnia / Male / Medical personnel / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Mental depression / Mental disorders / Mental health / Mental Health Impacts of COVID-19 / Middle Aged / Nepal - epidemiology / Occupational exposure / Pandemics / Pneumonia, Viral - epidemiology / Pneumonia, Viral - therapy / Polls & surveys / Professional ethics / Public Health / Quality of Life Research / Regression analysis / Risk analysis / Risk Factors / Sleep disorders / Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders - epidemiology / Social Policy / Sociodemographics / Stigma / Support systems / Surveys / Variables / Workers / Young Adult