Fear of COVID-19 and Depression: A Comparative Study Among the General Population and Healthcare Professionals During COVID-19 Pandemic Crisis in Bangladesh

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic affects individuals’ mental health that can result in fear of getting COVID-19 infection and depression. As there is no prior study available, we evaluated these mental health outcomes and associated factors among the general population and healthcare professionals (HCPs) in Bangladesh. This nationwide cross-sectional study comprised 3388 individuals including 834 HCPs. The measures included socio-demographics, healthcare, and patient-care related information, the Bangla Patient Health Questionnaire, and the Bangla Fear of COVID-19 Scale. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors. Just over one-quarter of the participants were depressed, and was significantly associated with COVID-19 fear. Regression analyses showed that, both in general population and HCPs, depression and fear of COVID-19 were strongly predicted by being female; however, depression was inversely associated with being married. Particularly, among the HCPs, being restless while examining a patient with flu-like symptoms and while examining a patient returning from abroad was found to be significant predictor for both depression and fear of COVID-19. HCPs who were using single protective equipment for a week had greater depression and those who felt insecure due to the pandemic had a high level of COVID-19 fear. The findings identified major psychological impacts among the participants, suggesting the urgent need to promote mental wellbeing in both general population and medical professionals.

Psychological impact of COVID-19 on obstetrics and gynaecology residents in India

“…Studies show an association of depression with fear of infection, distress and loss of quality sleep. 18,23,33,40 Fear of COVID-19 is positively correlated with psychological distress (p=0.638**, p<0.001) as well as insomnia (p=0.444**, p<0.001) which is also observed in similar studies. 18,22,25,29 The Kessler psychological distress scale is positively correlated with ISI (p=0.741%**, p<0.001).…”

“…32 A study on healthcare workers in Bangladesh suggested that females had a higher fear of COVID-19 and higher depression features as a result. 33 Another study on the doctors and postgraduate trainees in Pakistan highlighted the fear of COVID-19 was significantly higher in female postgraduate trainees, doctors who had less than 5 years of experience along with high levels of workplace phobia, panic, anxiety and work avoidance behaviours. 34 Spearman correlation was used to analyze the association between different groups.…”

Impact of online education on fear of academic delay and psychological distress among university students following one year of COVID-19 outbreak in Bangladesh

“…To the best of our knowledge, there was no published report regarding the integration of online education, FAD, and subsequent psychological distress among university students in Bangladesh rather than several studies on psychological distress among the general population [ 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ] and medical professionals [ 47 , 48 , 49 ]. However, only a nearly alike study is available online conducted on intermediate college students in Bangladesh [ 15 ].…”

COVID-19: Fear and Anxiety among Healthcare Workers in Saudi Arabia. A Cross-Sectional Study

“…4 During disease outbreaks, frontline healthcare workers are vulnerable to temporary and long-term psychological issues due to the fears of disease contraction and being quarantined, the possibility of their family and friends being infected, caring for fellow workers as a patient, feelings of stigmatization, and rejection by others in their locality. 5,6 Predominantly, the psychological issues confronting the HCWs include high levels of depression, fear, anxiety, insomnia, and distress. 7 Suicide has been stated as a severe psychological consequence of COVID-19.…”