Psychological Problems Experienced by Primary Healthcare Workers During COVID-19 Epidemic in South Africa

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted on healthcare workers globally. The psychological impact of COVID-19 among primary healthcare workers who constitute a vulnerable group is yet to be evaluated in South Africa. The objectives were to estimate the prevalence and risk factors for stress, anxiety and depression among healthcare workers of a rural primary health care setting in South Africa. Method: Self-administered questionnaire-based cross-sectional design was implemented among medical and nursing care professionals. Psychological problems were assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Logistic regression was performed to determine associated factors for psychological problems. Results: The majority of HCWs were female (82.8%), of which 69.2% nurses and 56.6% single. The prevalence of stress, anxiety and depression disorders were 97.5%, 97.5% and 44% respectively. Females were 5.3 times (p<0.05) more likely to have stress disorder than males. Household size, perceived threat of family member not becoming infected with COVID-19 and having no concern of staff shortage were found to be protective for stress disorder (p<0.05). Healthcare workers who were not worried of getting infection and not worried of their family members getting infected found to be protective (OR<1, p<0.05) for anxiety disorder. Those 55 years or older were four times more likely to have depression (p<0.05) than their younger counterparts. Healthcare workers who were not worried of their family members would get infected and those were not worried to be infected were less likely (OR<1, p<0.05) to have depression disorder compared to those were worried. Conclusion: Higher rates of stress, anxiety and depression were found among these HCWs. It is therefore imperative that appropriate and timely mental health care supports are provided to avert immediate and long term adverse psychological health outcomes of the HCWs.