Exploring health workers’ experiences of mental health challenges during care of patients with COVID-19 in Uganda: a qualitative study

Abstract

Objectives The aim of this study is to qualitatively investigate the lived experiences of mental health among frontline health workers providing COVID-19-realted care in Uganda. This study provides insights into the contextual realities of the mental health of health workers facing greater challenges given the lack of adequate resources, facilities and health workers to meet the demand brought about by COVID-19. Results All in all, our findings suggest that healthcare workers are under enormous stress during this pandemic, however, in order to effectively respond to the COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda, it is important to understand their challenges and sources of these challenges. The government thus has the reasonability to address most of the sources that were highlighted (long working hours, lack of proper equipment, lack of sleep, exhaustion, and experiencing high death rate under their care). Further, the Ugandan social fabric presents an opportunity for coping through its strong communal links and networks. Scaling these forms of local responses is cheap but contextually useful for a country with limited resources like Uganda.

The psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare workers in sub-Saharan Africa. A narrative review of existing literature.

“…Moreover, sex, age, marital status, type of profession, and working environment were signi cant factors for PTSD symptoms [37,41]. However, one study in Ethiopia found that the odds of depression were twice as high among male healthcare providers than among female healthcare providers [35].…”

“…The 12 studies included in this review consisted of 11 cross-sectional quantitative and 01 qualitative studies. The most typical mental health conditions assessed in the literature were: depression, anxiety, perceived Stress, post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD), coping strategy, perceived health status, health distress (including burnout), insomnia, and perceived stigma [35,36].…”

Frontline Nurses’ Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Associated Predictive Factors During the Second Wave of COVID-19 in Central, Uganda

“… 3 In Uganda, the health worker density is only 0.71 indicating a huge shortage in care. 4 Such a dilemma coupled with other diseases like HIV, malaria, and lower respiratory infections have put the healthcare system in the country at greater risk of collapse. 4 The onset of the second wave of COVID-19 poses an even greater threat on the healthcare system particularly the frontline nurses providing direct care to COVID-19 patients.…”

“…Prior studies indicated that health workers were under serious psychological stress as a result of COVID-19. 4 , 6 Remarkably, little is known about the burden of PTSD and its predictive factors among nurses in Uganda during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the current study assessed the prevalence and predictive factors of PTSD in nurses during COVID-19 in central Uganda.…”

“…4 Such a dilemma coupled with other diseases like HIV, malaria, and lower respiratory infections have put the healthcare system in the country at greater risk of collapse. 4 The onset of the second wave of COVID-19 poses an even greater threat on the healthcare system particularly the frontline nurses providing direct care to COVID-19 patients. 5 The frontline nurses are at increasing their risk of mental health problems including depression, anxiety, burnout, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).…”