Anxiety and Depression Due to 2019 SARS-CoV-2 Among Frontier Healthcare Workers in Kenya

Background: The novel coronavirus disease continues to spread across the globe, causing anxiety and depression among healthcare workers.

Objectives: The current study aimed to determine the levels of anxiety and depression due to the coronavirus pandemic among healthcare workers in Kenya.

Methods: A total sample of 476 respondents participated. The 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) and Patient-Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), together with a socio-demographic questionnaire, were applied. Stratified sampling was used. Data was analysed using the Statistical Package Programme for Social Science Version 23.0.0. Kruskal Wallis test and Mann-Whitney U test were employed to establish the differences in levels of anxiety and depression across socio-demographic characteristics. Ordinal logistic regression analysis was used to establish the predictors of levels of anxiety and depression, and associations were considered significant at < 0.05.

Results: A total of 35.1% (n = 167) of the participants had mild anxiety, and 13.4% (n = 64) severe anxiety. Approximately 53.6% (n = 255) had mild depression while 9.2% (n = 44) had severe depression. The univariate analysis illustrated a statistical difference in anxiety levels in gender ( > 0.027), years of work experience ( = 0.005), and the cadre of respondents ( = 0.0028). Gender was statistically significant with the level of depression ( = 0.045). About 62.6% (n = 298) of healthcare workers had been trained, and only 9% (n = 43) were confident in managing COVID-19 cases. A large proportion, 98% (n = 458) had concerns about the availability of personal protective equipment.

Conclusion: The study findings indicated that the majority of healthcare workers had mild anxiety and depression. Female healthcare workers were more likely to experience severe anxiety and depression. Also, levels of anxiety and depression differed across different cadres of healthcare workers.