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Ghaleb Y, Lami F, Al Nsour M, Rashak HA, Samy S, Khader YS, Al Serouri A, BahaaEldin H, Afifi S, Elfadul M, Ikram A, Akhtar H, Hussein AM, Barkia A, Hakim H, Taha HA, Hijjo Y, Kamal E, Ahmed AY, Rahman F, Islam KM, Hussein MH, Ramzi SR. Mental health impacts of COVID-19 on healthcare workers in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: a multi-country study. J Public Health (Oxf) 2021; 43:iii34-iii42. [PMID: 34642765 PMCID: PMC8524602 DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdab321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 06/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background 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. Methods 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). Results 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. Conclusions 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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasser Ghaleb
- Ministry of Public Health and Population, Yemen Field Epidemiology Training Program, Sana'a, Yemen
| | - Faris Lami
- Department of Community and Family Medicine, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq
| | - Mohannad Al Nsour
- Global Health Development (GHD), The Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network (EMPHNET), Amman, Jordan
| | | | - Sahar Samy
- Ministry of Health and Population, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Yousef S Khader
- Professor of Epidemiology, Medical Education and Biostatistics, Department of Public Health, Jordan University of Science & Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan
| | - Abdulwahed Al Serouri
- Ministry of Public Health and Population, Yemen Field Epidemiology Training Program, Sana'a, Yemen
| | | | - Salma Afifi
- Ministry of Health and Population, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Maisa Elfadul
- Public Health Institute, Federal Ministry of Health, Department of Research, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Aamer Ikram
- National Institute of Health, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Hashaam Akhtar
- Yusra Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Yusra Medical and Dental Collage, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | | | | | - Huda Hakim
- Department of Community Medicine, Al-Majmaah University, AL-Majmaah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Hana Ahmad Taha
- Health Protection and Promotion, Global Health Development (GHD), Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network, Amman, Jordan
| | - Yasser Hijjo
- Clinical Pharmacy, Public and Tropical Health Programs, University of Medical Sciences & Technology, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Ehab Kamal
- Ministry of Health and Population, Cairo, Egypt
| | | | - Fazalur Rahman
- Medical Unit 1 Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Rawalpindi Medical University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - Khwaja Mir Islam
- Afghanistan Field Epidemiology Training Program, Global Health Development (GHD), Afghanistan
| | | | - Shahd Raid Ramzi
- Al-Rusafa Health Directorate, Public Health Department, Ministry of Health, Baghdad, Iraq
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