Covid-19 Pandemic and Its Psychological Effects On Health Care Workers In A SocioEconomically Challenged Environment; A Cross-Sectional Analytical Study

Background: COVID-19 pandemic, an unprecedented global public health event, is a potential precipitating factor of psychological distress especially among Health Care Workers (HCWs) in developing countries already operating under challenging socioeconomic conditions. The study aims to assess the prevalence, sociodemographic patterns and predictors of stress, anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 Pandemic among HCWs in a socio-economically challenged environment. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical design used convenience and snowballing techniques to enrol 386 HCWs from public health institutions in Imo State, Nigeria from 2nd to 27th October 2021. A structured online questionnaire was used and the Kruskal Wallis H test and Logistic Regression were performed at a significance level, p≤ 0.05. Results: Prevalence and sample median levels of stress, anxiety and depression among the HCWs were 76.7% (18.0), 32.6% (43.8) and 33.4% (45.6) respectively. The median stress levels in the following subcategories were above the stress cut-off point (13.9) and were the highest amongst their respective subcategories. Those aged 20-29 years, female, single and also, those on the job for less than 1 year, who usually take public transport and are without training in infection, prevention and control (IPC). Similarly, the median anxiety levels in females and those without IPC training were above the anxiety cut-off point (49.9) and were highest amongst their respective subcategories and also, the median depression levels in females and single HCWs were above the depression cut-off point (52.9) and were highest amongst their respective subcategories. However, singles compared to married HCWs were significantly more likely to experience anxiety (OR: 1.84; p=0.049). and also, females compared to male HCWs were significantly more likely to experience either anxiety (OR: 1.76; p=0.013) or depression (OR: 1.88; p=0.006). Conclusion: The prevalence of stress, anxiety and depression appear to be high among HCWs, particularly in those that are young, female and single. Therefore, it is essential that even though, mental health and psychosocial support services should be accessible to all HCWs, priority services should be made available, accessible, and timely to those that are young, female and single.