Psychological distress and associated factors among hospital workers in Uganda during the COVID-19 lockdown – A multicentre study
Joseph Kirabira,
Jimmy Ben Forry,
Robinson Ssebuufu,
Benedict Akimana,
Madrine Nakawuki,
Lucas Anyayo,
Emmanuel Mpamizo,
Bruno Chan Onen,
Jane Ingabire,
Nolbert Gumisiriza,
Ali Waiswa,
Anatoli Mawanda,
Scholastic Ashaba,
Patrick Kyamanywa
Affiliations
Joseph Kirabira
Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Kampala International University, Western Campus, Ishaka, Bushenyi, Uganda; Department of Psychiatry, Busitema University, P.O. Box 236, Tororo, Uganda; Corresponding author.
Jimmy Ben Forry
Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Kampala International University, Western Campus, Ishaka, Bushenyi, Uganda; Department of Psychiatry, Mubende Regional Referral Hospital, P.O. Box 4, Mubende, Uganda
Robinson Ssebuufu
Department of Surgery, Kampala International University, Western Campus, P.O Box 71, Ishaka, Bushenyi, Uganda
Benedict Akimana
Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Kampala International University, Western Campus, Ishaka, Bushenyi, Uganda
Madrine Nakawuki
Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Kampala International University, Western Campus, Ishaka, Bushenyi, Uganda
Lucas Anyayo
Department of Psychiatry, Lira University, P.O. Box 1035, Lira, Uganda
Emmanuel Mpamizo
Department of Psychiatry, Gulu University, P.O. Box 166, Gulu, Uganda
Bruno Chan Onen
Department of Surgery, Makerere College of Health Science, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda
Jane Ingabire
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, P.O. Box 43, Jinja, Uganda
Nolbert Gumisiriza
Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Kampala International University, Western Campus, Ishaka, Bushenyi, Uganda
Ali Waiswa
Department of Pathology, Makerere College of Health Science, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda
Anatoli Mawanda
Department of Pathology, Makerere College of Health Science, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda
Scholastic Ashaba
Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Kampala International University, Western Campus, Ishaka, Bushenyi, Uganda; Department of Psychiatry, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda
Patrick Kyamanywa
Department of Surgery, Kampala International University, Western Campus, P.O Box 71, Ishaka, Bushenyi, Uganda
Objective: To assess the prevalence of psychological distress (PD), and its associated demographic, psychosocial, hospital and health-related factors among hospital workers in Uganda during the COVID-19 related lockdown. Methods: An online cross-sectional study was conducted among three hundred ninety six participants recruited from eight hospitals and PD was assessed using the Kessler 6 distress scale from May to June 2020. Results: PD was present in 92.7% of the participants with majority (78.3%) having mild to moderate PD whereas 14.4% had severe PD. Severe PD had statistically significant association with having financial liabilities (O.R = 3.69 (1.55–8.77), p = 0.003). However, ability to maintain contact with family members and friends (O.R = 0.43 (0.22–0.84), p value = 0.013), and having enough personal protective equipment and safety tools at work place (O.R = 0.44 (0.23–0.84), p value = 0.012) were protective against severe PD. having excessive worry about getting infected with COVID-19, conflicts within a home, segregation by friends or community, longer working hours or involvement in management of suspected or confirmed case were not associated with severe PD. Conclusion: The findings indicate the need to take into consideration the mental wellbeing of health workers during this COVID-19 outbreak. Whereas hospital workers continue to provide their services during the COVID-19 pandemic and related lockdown, it is important that they maintain contact with social support networks and be provided with counselling and mental health and psychosocial services in order to optimise their mental health during this pandemic.
