Psychosocial Impact of COVID-19 on Frontline Healthcare Workers at a Tertiary Healthcare Facility in Northwest Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.60787/tnhj.v24i4.873Keywords:
Psychosocial impact, COVID-19, Frontline healthcare workers, Stigmatization, Discrimination, NigeriaAbstract
Background: The emergence of COVID-19 and its variants have globally impacted many nations, significantly affecting the healthcare sector and workers in Nigeria. This study assessed the psychosocial impact of COVID-19 on frontline healthcare workers (HCWs).
Method: Adopting cross-sectional design, a total enumeration (census sampling) of 97 healthcare workers (HCWs) at a tertiary healthcare facility in northwest Nigeria was conducted to assess the psychosocial impact of COVID-19. Data was collected using an adapted PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 and Perceived Discrimination scales, and analysed with the aid of SPSS version 23.0. The study employed mean and standard deviation to determine the level of psychosocial impact, while Chi-square tests evaluated associations between COVID-19's impact and socio-demographic characteristics with significance set at P ≤ 0.05.
Results: The findings revealed that the psychological and social impacts of COVID-19 among HCWs were predominantly categorized as low. The majority of HCWs experienced low levels of psychological impact, with mean scores falling within the low impact range (1.0–1.9), and low social impact, with scores also within the low range (1.06 ± 1.11). Significant associations were identified between the categorized impact levels and various factors, including gender (p=0.000), age (p=0.000), work experience (p=0.000), cadre (p=0.000), highest educational level (p=0.000), formal training before placement at the COVID-19 centre (p=0.000), tribe (p=0.000), religion (p=0.002), number of dependents (p=0.000), and hours per call (p=0.000).
Conclusion: The study reveals low psychological and social impacts of COVID-19 on frontline healthcare workers, influenced by socio-demographic factors like gender, age, work experience, and work hours. Subsequent emergency preparedness and activation however needs to take these factors in consideration.
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