Psychological Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Healthcare Workers Posted in the Obstetric Unit

Abstract

Objective: This study was done to determine the prevalence and predictors of depression, anxiety, and stress among doctors in COVID MCH unit in Delhi. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in India among 356 doctors to evaluate the mental health of doctors working in COVID-infected maternity wards over a period of 6 months using a predesigned, semistructured Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) questionnaire which was developed on Google Forms. The predictors to stress, anxiety, and depression were subject to univariate logistic regression. Result: Out of the total 356 participants, 38.76% felt stressed, 56.46% were anxious, while 43.25% felt depressed. The mean DASS-21 score for stress, anxiety, and depression was 7.46, 4.12, and 4.29, respectively. Female gender was found to be a significant predictor of stress, anxiety, and depression. Staying with parents/children was a significant predictor for stress and living alone was found to be a significant predictor of depression. Fear of infecting their family members was the main concern among those tested positive. Conclusion: The present study has shown a significant psychological impact arising from this pandemic. Early screening targeting the medical workforce and the implementation of psychological interventions is essential for maintaining the functionality of the healthcare system.

Keywords

• anxiety
• covid-19 pandemic
• depression
• healthcare worker
• mental health
• stress