COVID-19 and its consequences on the physical, psychological and social health of obstetricians

Abstract

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has had effects on the health of health workers, including obstetricians, but the consequences in this occupational group are unknown. Objective: Determine the consequences of COVID-19 on the physical, psychological and social health of obstetricians in Peru. Methods: Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study, carried out on 511 attending obstetricians, in the first line of care. An online questionnaire, previously validated and reliable, was applied to measure the variables: general characteristics and exposure to COVID-19, physical health, psychological health, and social health. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: 468 (91.6%) obstetricians are women, 287 (56.2%) aged 40-59 years, 213 (41.7%) married, 292 (57.1%) working at the first level of care; 216 (42.3%) were infected with COVID-19, 165 (32.3%) had headache, 127 (24.9%) sore throat and 121 (23.7%) fatigue; 167 (77.3%) required outpatient treatment and 3 (1.3%) intensive care. Obesity reported by 102 (20.0%) obstetricians was the main comorbidity, followed by hypertension with 38 (7.4%) and diabetes with 14 (2.7%); 263 (51.5%) reported depressive symptoms and 464 (90.8%) stress; 238 (46.6%) felt discrimination and 118 (23.1%) carried the workload of the home alone. Conclusions: The physical, psychological and social health of obstetricians is affected by the pandemic; generates disorders of overweight/obesity, depression, stress; as well as discrimination and work overload at home.

Keywords

• covid-19
• sars-cov-2
• obstetricia
• matronas
• salud mental
• determinantes sociales de la salud
• salud laboral.