Psychological Consequence of the Corona Virus Disease Pandemic in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Survey

Abstract

Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is impacting the mental health of the population, but data on its impact in developing countries are lacking. The purpose of this study is to assess the psychological aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the population of Kinshasa. Methods This cross-sectional and analytical study included 456 randomly selected respondents in the Ngafani district of the municipality of Selembao during the period from August 1 to October 30, 2020. Socio-demographic data, and data concerning COVID-19 and its impact on mental health, were studied. Anxiety and depression were studied using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Results The two genders were represented in equal proportions; the patients had a mean age of 40.4±17.2 years with a high frequency of patients aged over 50 years. All had agreed to observe social distancing, but only 36.8% had accepted isolation. Using the HADS, 47.4% had a doubtful anxiety state and 23.7% had a definite anxiety state; 36.8% had a doubtful depressive state and 25% had a definite depressive state. Old age (≥50 years), female gender, lack of occupation, and isolation were independent determinants associated with anxiety and depression. Conclusion The frequency of anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic was high. Older age, female gender, lack of a profession, and isolation were associated with anxiety and depression.

A Review of the COVID-19 Mental Health Impact in Post-Conflict Settings: Bridging the Mental Health Gap with Case Exemplars from an Implementation Science Lens

“…Post-conflict settings have been especially susceptible to poor outcomes related to the COVID-19 pandemic because of limited resources and insufficient infrastructure [4,9,16]. Due to the continually evolving pandemic, evidence is limited, but the current literature suggests that individuals with increased mental health risks residing in post-conflict settings have been particularly negatively impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic [6][7][8]14,[17][18][19]. Countries have reported increased rates of depression, anxiety, and interruptions in administering standard-of-care interventions for mental health [3].…”