Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in Health Professionals Working During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Peru: An Analytical Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

To determine the association between depression, anxiety, and stress according to sociodemographic and occupational factors in Peruvian health professionals during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.Methods: Cross-sectional analytical and multicentre study, based on a virtual survey sent to Peruvian health personnel (from the 25 Peruvian regions) working during the COVID-19 pandemic. The three dependent variables (depression, anxiety, and stress) were measured with the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale -21 (DASS-21) (Cronbach's Alpha: 0.93) and compared with sociodemographic and occupational variables. P-values were obtained through generalized linear models, adjusted for each location where the survey was sent.Results: Of the 550 participants, 2%, 13%, and 3% of them had severe or very severe depression, anxiety, and stress, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, we observed that professionals with a greater number of children had a lower frequency of severe depression (adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR): 0.37; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.17-0.79; p = 0.010). In addition, physicians had a lower frequency of severe anxiety (aPR: 0.37; 95% CI: 0.18-0.75; p = 0.036), and professionals who lived in the Central region (aPR: 0.50; 95% CI: 0.25-0.97; p = 0.042) and in the South of the country (aPR: 0.37; 95% CI: 0.19-0.71; p = 0.003) had lower anxiety levels compared to those in the Northern region. With regard to severe stress, those who lived in the Central (aPR: 0.15; 95% CI: 0.03-0.75; p = 0.021) and South regions (aPR: 0.19; 95% CI: 0.04-0.79; p = 0.011) had lower stress levels. Conclusion:There were significant percentages of deteriorating mental health in Peruvian health professionals during the pandemic, which may have negative repercussions in the short-, medium-, and long-term. In this sense, additional governmental actions should be necessary to provide specific psychological and psychiatric support programs to these workers.

Effectiveness of a chatbot in improving the mental wellbeing of health workers in Malawi during the COVID-19 pandemic: A randomized, controlled trial

“…Compared to those working in other types of medical and ancillary services, levels of anxiety and depression appear to be highest among our participants working in outpatient care, a service in which healthcare workers may be required to pay special attention to mental health support, but, according to anonymous user feedback, they may also face the greatest time constraints for accessing online mental health solutions. Participants working in secondary and tertiary care institutions were at higher risk for anxiety, depression, and burnout compared to those in primary care, a finding similar to a study in Peru [52]. In our study, we found that public facilities were associated with greater mental health risks than private, not-for-profit facilities.…”

Effectiveness of a chatbot in improving the mental wellbeing of health workers in Malawi during the COVID-19 pandemic: A randomized, controlled trial

“…Compared to those working in other types of medical and ancillary services, levels of anxiety and depression appear to be highest among our participants working in outpatient care, a service in which healthcare workers may be required to pay special attention to mental health support, but, according to anonymous user feedback, they may also face the greatest time constraints for accessing online mental health solutions. Participants working in secondary and tertiary care institutions were at higher risk for anxiety, depression, and burnout compared to those in primary care, a finding similar to a study in Peru [54]. In our study, we found that public facilities were associated with greater mental health risks than private, not-for-profit facilities.…”

Moderate or major anxiety and depression versus high alcohol consumption in women in Honduras

“…We cannot forget the recent COVID-19 pandemic produced an increase in mental health illnesses as in the study carried out in 2021, in Peru, by Quispe-Sancho, depression was associated with the number of children, while anxiety was associated with being a doctor. [42]…”