Psychosocial Impact of COVID-19 Among Health Workers in Algeria

Overview

Journal Tunis Med

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2022 Mar 15

PMID 35288905

Authors

Chahrazed Kandouci

Fethi Mecabih

Imene Mecabih

Chifaa Kadari

Nihed Megherbi

Mohamed Yacine Achouri

Badreddine Abdelkarimn Kandouci

Ahmed Ben Abdelaziz

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: The current COVID-19 pandemic has put health care professionals in the face of increasing psychological distress, with a high risk of infection.

Purpose: To estimate the prevalence of anxiety-depressive disorders among health professionals in Algeria and determine their associated risk factors.

Method: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted from January 11 to March 09, 2021 and concerned healthcare professionals in Algeria, through an online self-assessment. The mental health rating scales used were GAD-7 (7 items) for Anxiety, and CES-D (20 items) for Depression. Resilience was estimated by the RISC-CD (10 items). An original questionnaire was used to assess three factors: fear of infection and death, isolation and stigmatization, as well as motivation and escape behaviour at work.

Results: A total of 1005 health professionals were included in the study, of which 51.5% were doctors, 75.6% were women and 41.1% were at the first front of the fight against COVID-19. The prevalence of Anxiety and Depression was 23.8% and 44.6% respectively. Health professionals with a high resilience score were those who were in direct contact with COVID-19 3.75 [1.11-12.7] and those who feared contracting the disease 1.22 [1.14-1.31]. Among the study population, 508 employees (50.5%) were free from anxiety-depressive disorder: Good mental health of health personnel, has been determined by the male sex 1,55 [1,07, 2,24], without co-morbidity 0,57 [0,39, 0,83], without direct intervention in the fight against COVID-19 0.63 [0.45, 0.89], having a low score of Depression and Anxiety with respectively 0.43 [0.36- 0.50], 0.50 [0.41- 0.58] while denouncing a high Resilience score 1.03 [1.01- 1.05].

Conclusion: In Algeria, the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on the mental health of health professionals, hence the urgent need for intervention programs, for strengthening their mental health in a more sustainable and effective struggle.

Citing Articles

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Epidemiology and psychosocial assessment of COVID-19 among workers of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control infected with COVID-19.

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