Mental health disorders among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional survey from three major hospitals in Kenya

Telemedicine as an Approach to the Mental Health of Healthcare Workers in Angola

INTRODUCTION

African healthcare professionals face significant mental health challenges; therefore, telemedicine can overcome geographical barriers and improve access to mental healthcare.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to identify the key factors influencing the adoption of telemedicine as a tool to support healthcare workers' mental health in an Angolan healthcare network and develop a telemedicine model tailored to this context.

METHODOLOGY

This mixed-method study collected quantitative data from a questionnaire applied to healthcare workers (n = 275), which were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regressions. Qualitative data were obtained through structured interviews (n = 5) with psychologists and psychiatrists, and analyzed using thematic analysis in MAXQDA (Version 2022, VERBI Software, Germany), to identify recurring patterns and themes. The data were triangulated to ensure the rigor and consistency of the findings. Participation was anonymous and voluntary, and informed consent was obtained from all participants.

RESULTS

Previous experiences with mental health consultations, perceptions of teleconsultations, and doctor-patient relationship were significant in influencing telemedicine adoption by workers. The thematic analysis revealed four themes: perception and ease of telemedicine use, intention to use, and the perception of mental health in Angola. The key adoption factors for providers included project feasibility, management support, training, payment policies, and adherence to legal, ethical, and deontological standards.

CONCLUSIONS

The adoption of telemedicine for occupational mental health requires culturally adapted interventions and compliance with technological and data protection standards. Hospital management must address infrastructure challenges and mental health perceptions, and implement sustainable strategies that promote occupational well-being within the organization.

Generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder among healthcare professionals in Mbarara city, southwestern Uganda: the relationship with professional quality of life and resilience

BACKGROUND

Marking the lives of healthcare professionals (HCPs) are tensions arising from the conflict between fulfilling their duty of care and the demands of the healthcare setting, creating concern for HCPs' mental. In our study, we aim to determine the prevalence of major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) among HCPs in Southwestern Uganda and to establish how the disorders' prevalence affects professional quality of life and resilience.

METHOD

In total, 200 HCPs from two health facilities (one private and one public) in Southwestern Uganda enrolled in an analytical cross-sectional study. We used the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) to determine MDD, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) to determine GAD, the Professional Quality of Life Scale-5 (ProQOL-5) to determine professional quality of life and the Nicholson McBride Resilience Questionnaire (NMRQ) to determine resilience.

RESULTS

The prevalence of MDD was 11.0% and of GAD was 14.5%. High compassion fatigue increased the likelihood of MDD [aPR = 3.38, p value < 0.001]. However, high compassion satisfaction and exceptional resilience reduced the likelihood of GAD i.e., [aPR = 0.50, p value < 0.001] and [aPR = 0.50, p value < 0.001] respectively. Being male [aPR = 2.41, p value = 0.005] and being married [aPR = 1.79, p value = 0.017] increased the likelihood of having MDD. The likelihood of GAD among HCPs decreased with age, [aPR = 0.97, p value = 0.022].

CONCLUSION

There is a significant occurrence of MDD and GAD among healthcare professionals (HCPs) in Southwestern Uganda. Compassion fatigue is linked to an elevated prevalence of MDD, while compassion satisfaction and high resilience scores are associated with a reduced prevalence of GAD. We recommend creation and execution of extensive mental health initiatives designed for HCPs.

Determinants maintaining healthcare personnel's motivation during COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda

BACKGROUND

Maintaining the physical and psychological well-being of healthcare workers (HCWs) is crucial for health system resilience. In sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Uganda, HCWs faced significant challenges during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, compounded by pre-existing resource constraints. This study investigated challenges faced by HCWs at a designated COVID-19 hospital ('the Hospital') and explored determinants of maintaining healthcare personnel's motivation during the COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda.

METHODS

A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted at the Hospital from May to July 2023, with 120 HCWs categorised by profession. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were performed to identify motivation-related factors. The questionnaire assessed sociodemographic data, COVID-19 knowledge, medical history, support received, and pandemic-related challenges. Psychological impact was measured using a four-point Likert scale.

RESULTS

Among respondents, 61.7% worked during the first lockdown and 93.3% during the second. COVID-19 knowledge was high, with over 70% answering questions correctly, although vaccine effectiveness had a slightly lower accuracy rate. The study revealed that 32.5% of HCWs tested positive for COVID-19 and 25% displayed vaccine hesitancy. Key challenges included fear of infection, transportation disruptions, income reduction, and social isolation. Notably, 92.5% reported significant anxiety related to infection. Factors positively associated with remaining motivated were age (≤ 30 versus > 30 years; adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 10.34, 95% CI; 1.92-55.74), profession (co-medical/non-medical staff versus medical doctors/medical officers; AOR: 11.66, 95% CI: 1.03-132.22), receiving mentoring/tutoring (AOR: 18.87, 95% CI: 2.55-139.72), and information from supervisors/management (AOR: 12.5, 95% CI: 2.60-60.42). In contrast, psychological impact was negatively affected by isolation from family and friends (AOR: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.41-0.92).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite challenges, most HCWs at the Hospital remained motivated. These findings emphasised the importance of technical and psychological support, such as mentoring and effective communication from upper-level supervisors, rather than financial incentives, in maintaining motivation among the HCWs. Comprehensive support systems are essential for sustaining HCWs' motivation during the pandemic, especially in resource-limited settings. Further research should address the long-term mental health effects and enhance HCWs' resilience in future health crises.

Depression and its associated factors among health care workers in Saint Paul's hospital millennium medical college, Ethiopia

BACKGROUND

Depression is a common mental disorder that affects 3.8% of the general population and 24% of healthcare workers globally. Healthcare professionals are more susceptible to depression because they face higher amounts of professional stress in their jobs and academic lives. However, there is limited knowledge regarding health professionals' level of depression in Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of depression and associated factors among health professionals, at Saint Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

METHODS

We conducted an institution-based cross-sectional study among 439 randomly selected healthcare workers using interviewer-administered patient health questionnaire-9 from April to May 2023. Ordinal logistic regression was performed to identify predictors of depression. Reported p-values < 0.05 or a 95% Confidence Interval of Odds Ratio excluding one was considered statistically significant.

RESULT

The overall prevalence of depression among healthcare workers was 21.9% (95%CI: 18%, 27.76%). There were reports of mild (35%), moderate (13%) and severe (9%) depression, respectively. Marital status of being single (AOR = 7.78, 95%CI: 1.123, 49.01), history of childhood abuse (AOR = 2.57, 95%CI:1.49, 4.42), history of suicidal attempt (AOR = 2.66, 95%CI:1.25,5.67), having a history of stressful life event (AOR = 1.527, 95%CI: 1.02,2.3), back pain over the past 30 days (AOR = 2, 95%CI: 1.30,3.11), working for more than 8 hours (AOR = 3.03, 95%CI: 1.12,8.24), and having experience of 5-10 year (AOR = 4, 95%CI: 1.05,15.27) and 10-15 years (AOR = 4.24, 95%CI: 1.08,16.58) and poor social support (AOR = 2.09, 95%CI: 1.09,3.99) were statistically associated with increased level of depression.

CONCLUSION

Healthcare professionals' higher rate of depression was due to the higher workload, childhood abuse, history of stressful life, back pain, and poor social support. Thus, the hospital should give special attention to early screening and treatment for depression for those healthcare workers who have a high workload, childhood abuse, back pain, a history of stressful life and poor social support. Similarly, the Ministry of Health should also design strategies to screen, detect and treat depression among healthcare workers.

Maintaining the Psychological Well-Being of Physicians in the Uncertain Work Environment: A Practitioners Perspective

COVID-19 significantly altered the healthcare ecosystem and forced us to stretch the capacity to ensure healthcare delivery services. Physicians were on the frontline and acted as an important cog in the wheel of healthcare delivery. This unprecedented situation forced them to adopt to a new norm amidst uncertainty, potentially impacting their mental well-being and overall health. The study aims to investigate the coping strategies for physicians to maintain their psychological well-being during uncertain events such as COVID-19. By employing Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), the research prioritizes coping strategies that can improve physicians' psychological well-being. This study affirms that the physicians working in healthcare during pandemic preferred adaptive strategies over maladaptive strategies. Maintained exercise, yoga/meditation (or similar), and behavioral disengagement are the three most preferred coping strategies. The study will benefit physicians and the policy makers, to achieve their agenda of enhancing physicians' psychological resilience during uncertain events, ultimately contributing to the continuity and quality of healthcare delivery.

The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Healthcare Providers' Mental Health: Experiences at Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya

BACKGROUND

In 2020, healthcare providers were expected to provide care to individuals with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), putting them at risk of acquiring COVID-19. The possibility of acquiring poorly understood infectious diseases while providing care may have an impact on the mental health of providers. We conducted a study to explore the effects of COVID-19 on the mental health of healthcare providers.

METHODS

Between April and August 2021, we conducted in-depth interviews with 60 healthcare providers in the infectious disease unit (IDU) and other units of the hospital (non-IDU). The healthcare providers completed an online self-administered survey form with demographic data (age, sex, average income, and known contact with a COVID-19 patient). We used semi-structured interview guides to understand the healthcare providers' lived experiences of stress, anxiety, depression, and their associated factors. We transcribed the interviews verbatim and coded and analyzed the transcripts to derive thematic concepts related to mental health experiences.

RESULTS

The healthcare providers had a median age of 37 years [IQR 20.0-58.0], and 56.7% were female, 30.0% nurses, 18.3% medical doctors, and 11.7% laboratory technologists. The healthcare providers reported increased stress during the pandemic, attributed to the high demand for patient care, changes in social life, and fear of COVID-19 infection. They also reported experiences of anxiety and depression as a result of limited knowledge at the beginning of the pandemic and the perception that "COVID-19 resulted in death". Testing positive for COVID-19, high exposure to COVID-19 risks, and the death of patients and colleagues reportedly affected the healthcare providers' mental health. Additionally, the healthcare providers reported mental health support through debriefing meetings, peer-to-peer support, and psychological counseling, with privacy and confidentiality concerns.

CONCLUSIONS

Healthcare providers faced mental health issues such as stress and anxiety while taking care of COVID-19 patients. An effective mental health response requires institutional practices that address context-specific challenges such as privacy and confidentiality.

Mental health status and related factors influencing healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The mental health of healthcare workers during the coronavirus-2019 pandemic was seriously affected, and the risk of mental health problems was high. The present study sought to systematically evaluate the mental health problems of healthcare workers worldwide during the pandemic and to determine the latest global frequency of COVID-19 associated mental health problems.

METHODS

Data in the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), EMBASE, Elsevier, MEDLINE, PubMed, PsycINFO and the Web of Science before November 11, 2022, were systematically searched. Cohort, case-control and cross-sectional studies were included. The meta-analysis used a random effects model to synthesize the comprehensive prevalence rate of mental health problems. Subgroup analyses were performed based on time of data collection; whether the country was or was not developed; continent; doctors and nurses; doctors/nurses vs. other healthcare workers; and psychological evaluation scale.

RESULTS

A total of 161 studies were included, including 341,014 healthcare workers worldwide, with women accounting for 82.8%. Occupationally, 16.2% of the healthcare workers were doctors, 63.6% were nurses and 13.3% were other medical staff. During the pandemic, 47% (95% confidence interval [CI], 35-60%) of healthcare workers reported job burnout, 38% (95% CI, 35-41%) experienced anxiety, 34% (95% CI 30-38%) reported depression, 30% (95% CI, 29-31%) had acute stress disorder, and 26% (95% CI, 21-31%) had post-traumatic stress disorder.

CONCLUSIONS

The study found that there were common mental health problems among health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The most common was job burnout, followed by anxiety, depression, acute stress and post-traumatic stress disorder. Although the global pandemic has been brought under control, its long-term impact on the mental health of healthcare workers cannot be ignored. Additional research is required to develop measures to prevent, monitor and treat psychological disorders among healthcare workers.

Surviving Covid-19 Diagnosis Among Registered Nurses: Reactions, Consequences, and Coping Mechanisms

Background

To mitigate the spread of Covid-19, nurses infected with the virus were required to isolate themselves from their families and community. Isolated patients were reported to have experienced mental distress, posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, and suicide. Though studies have reported the psychological impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, less is known about the lived experiences of nurses who survived Covid-19 infection in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods

A descriptive phenomenological approach was used to study the lived experiences of registered nurses who survived Covid-19 disease. In-depth interviews were conducted among nurses diagnosed with Covid-19 from two hospitals in Kenya between March and May, 2021. Purposive and snowball sampling were used to recruit registered nurses. Data were analyzed using Giorgi's steps of analysis.

Results

The study included ten nurses between 29 and 45 years of age. Nurses' experiences encompassed three themes: diagnosis reaction, consequences, and coping. Reactions to the diagnosis included fear, anxiety, and sadness. The consequence of the diagnosis and isolation was stigma, isolation, and loneliness. Nurses coping mechanisms included acceptance, creating routines, support, and spirituality.

Conclusion

Our findings aid in understanding how nurses experienced Covid-19 infection as patients and will provide evidence-based content for supporting nurses in future pandemics. Moreover, as we acknowledge the heroic contribution of frontline healthcare workers during the Covid-19 pandemic, it is prudent to recognize the considerable occupational risk as they balance their duty to care, and the risk of infection to themselves and their families.

The prevalence of mental distress changes before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a study on physicians in Turkey

BACKGROUND

The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic may adversely affect the physicians' mental health differently.

AIMS

This study aimed to investigate the degree of changes in mental distress in physicians through two cross-sectional studies before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and explore factors associated with the change of mental distress status of participants between two-time periods.

METHODS

This cross-sectional, web-based survey collected demographic data and mental health measurements with the 12-item General Health Questionnaire from 416 and 522 physicians before and during COVID-19, respectively. Mixed-effects ordinal logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the factors associated with the change of mental distress status.

RESULTS

During the outbreak, a total of 319 of the 522 participants reported a clinically significant level of mental distress compared with 123 of 416 participants before COVID-19. Higher levels of mental distress were observed in all socio-demographic groups during COVID-19 compared with before, with more than two-fold higher prevalence of mental health deterioration in general.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests a significant deterioration in mental health status after the occurrence of COVID-19 compared with before. The mental health of physicians working in all medical specialty groups, especially those in internal and surgical specialties, may require special attention.

Factors associated with depression among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the mental health of healthcare workers (HCWs). We aimed to identify the factors associated with depression among HCWs during the pandemic. We conducted literature search using eight electronic databases up to July 27 2022. Observational studies with more than 200 participants investigating correlates of depression in HCWs after COVID-19 outbreak were included. We used fixed- and random-effects models to pool odds ratios (ORs) across studies, and Cochran's chi-squared test and I 2 statistics to assess study heterogeneity. Publication bias was evaluated by funnel plots. Thirty-five studies involving 44,362 HCWs met the inclusion criteria. Female (OR=1.50, 95% CI [1.23,1.84]), single (OR=1.36, 95% CI [1.21,1.54]), nurse (OR=1.69, 95% CI [1.28,2.25]), history of mental diseases (OR=2.53, 95% CI [1.78,3.58]), frontline (OR=1.79, 95% CI [1.38,2.32]), health anxiety due to COVID-19 (OR=1.88, 95% CI [1.29,2.76]), working in isolation wards (OR=1.98, 95% CI [1.38,2.84]), and insufficient personal protective equipment (OR=1.49, 95% CI [1.33,1.67]) were associated with increased risk of depression. Instead, HCWs with a positive professional prospect (OR=0.34, 95% CI [0.24,0.49]) were less likely to be depressed. This meta-analysis provides up-to-date evidence on the factors linked to depression among HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the persistent threats posed by COVID-19, early screening is crucial for the intervention and prevention of depression in HCWs.

Psychosocial impact of COVID-19 pandemic on front-line healthcare workers in Sierra Leone: an explorative qualitative study

INTRODUCTION

The COVID-19 pandemic has wide-reaching health and non-health consequences, especially on mental health and psychosocial well-being. Healthcare workers involved in COVID-19 patient care are particularly vulnerable to psychosocial distress due to increased pressure on healthcare systems. We explored the psychosocial experiences of front-line healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Sierra Leone.

METHODS

This qualitative study used purposive sampling to recruit 13 healthcare workers from different cadres across 5 designated COVID-19 treatment centres in Freetown, Sierra Leone. In-depth interviews were conducted remotely in July and August 2020, transcribed verbatim and analysed using the framework approach.

RESULTS

This study identified three overarching themes: vulnerability, resilience and support structures. Participants expressed vulnerability relating to the challenging work environment and lack of medications as key stressors resulting in anxiety, stress, anger, isolation and stigmatisation. Signs of resilience with experiences drawn from the 2014 Ebola outbreak, teamwork and a sense of duty were also seen. Peer support was the main support structure with no professional psychosocial support services available to healthcare workers.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first study to provide evidence of the psychosocial impacts of COVID-19 among front-line healthcare workers in Sierra Leone. Despite signs of resilience and coping mechanisms displayed, they also experienced adverse psychosocial outcomes. There is a need to focus on enhancing strategies such as psychosocial support for healthcare workers and those that overall strengthen the health system to protect healthcare workers, promote resilience and guide recommendations for interventions during future outbreaks.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the health-related quality of life of frontline workers: the case of seven low-income Eastern African countries

PURPOSE

This study aimed to explore the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of humanitarian and healthcare workers and its related factors in seven Eastern African countries (EAC).

METHODS

A sample of frontline workers filled out an online cross-sectional survey questionnaire comprising socio-demographic, degree of symptoms of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and distress, alcohol and tobacco consumption, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) using Short Form 6-Dimension version 2 (SF-6Dv2) and Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation 6-Dimension (CORE-6D), and fear of COVID-19 (FCV-19S) questionnaires. Multivariate regressions were conducted to identify independent factors associated with HRQoL.

RESULTS

Of total 721 study participants, mean (standard deviation) scores for SF-6Dv2 and CORE-6D were 0.87 (0.18) and 0.81 (0.14), respectively. Participants with an education level below a university degree, having chronic diseases, been tested positive to COVID-19, with traumatic memories, depression, insomnia, distress, and stress were found to have lower HRQoL likelihood in terms of SF-6Dv2 scores during the COVID-19 pandemic. Similarly, participants with chronic diseases, exposure to COVID-19 patients, depression, insomnia, distress, stress, tested positive with COVID-19, and high level of fear of COVID-19, had lower HRQoL likelihood in terms of CORE-6D scores. Participants who were married had higher HRQoL likelihoods in terms of SF-6Dv2 scores.

CONCLUSION

Some personal and mental health characteristics, and COVID-19 related factors, were predictors of lower HRQoL of frontline workers in EAC. These findings should be meaningful while designing sustainable interventions and guidelines aiming to improve the HRQoL of frontline workers during a pandemic situation.

Perceptions of Global Health Engagements in Relation to the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Kenyan Health Care Workers and Administrators in Western Kenya: Protocol for Multi-stage Qualitative Study

BACKGROUND

There has been significant interest in global health in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) among individuals living in high-income countries (HICs) over the past 30 years. Much of the literature on global health engagements (GHEs) has been presented from the perspective of individuals from HIC participants. Local stakeholders such as health care workers and health care administrators represent critical constituencies for global health activities, yet their perspectives are under-represented in the literature. The purpose of this study is to examine local health worker and administrator experiences with GHEs in Kenya. We will explore the perceived role GHEs play in preparing the health system to address a public health crisis, as well as their role in pandemic recovery and its aftermath.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to 1) examine how Kenyan health care workers and administrators interpret experiences with global health engagements as having advantaged or hindered them and the local health system to provide care during an acute public health crisis and 2) to explore recommendations to reimagine GHEs in a post-pandemic Kenya.

METHODS

This study will be conducted at a large teaching and referral hospital in western Kenya, with a long history of hosting GHEs in support of its tripartite mission of providing care, training, and research. This qualitative study will be conducted in three phases. In Phase 1, in-depth interviews (IDIs) will be conducted to capture participants' lived experience in relation to their unique understandings of the pandemic, GHEs, and the local health system. In Phase 2, group discussions, using nominal group technique (NGTs) will be conducted to determine potential priority areas to reimagine future GHEs. In Phase 3, IDIs will be conducted to explore these priority areas in greater detail to explore potential recommendations for potential strategies, policies, and other actions that might be employed to achieve the priorities determined to be of highest importance.

RESULTS

Study activities will commence late summer 2022, with findings to be published in 2023. It is anticipated that findings from this study will provide insight into the role GHEs play in a local health system in Kenya, and provide critical stakeholder and partner input, from persons hitherto ignored in the design, implementation, and management of GHEs.

CONCLUSIONS

This qualitative study will examine perspectives of global health engagements in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic among Kenyan health care workers and health care administrators in western Kenya using a multi-stage protocol. Using a combination of in-depth interviews and nominal group techniques this study aims to shed light on the roles global health activities are perceived to play in preparing health care professionals and the health system to address an acute public health crisis.

CLINICALTRIAL

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT

PRR1-10.2196/41836.

Psychometric evaluation of PHQ-9 and GAD-7 among community health volunteers and nurses/midwives in Kenya following a nation-wide telephonic survey

Background

Nurses/midwives and Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) are exposed to chronic stressors putting them at risk of developing mental health problems. This has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. There is limited empirical evidence of the burden of mental health problems among health care workers partly due to the lack of adequately standardized and validated measures for use among health care workers in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed to perform the psychometric evaluation of the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 administered to nurses/midwives and CHVs across 47 counties in Kenya.

Methods

Between June and November 2021, a national survey on mental well-being and resilience among nurses/midwives and CHVs was conducted via telephone interviews. The survey had a total sample size of 1907 nurses/midwives and 2027 CHVs. Cronbach's alpha and MacDonalds' omega were used to evaluate the scale's internal consistency. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was used to test the one-factor structure of the scales. Multi-group CFA was applied to evaluate the generalizability of the scales across the Swahili and English versions, and among male and female health workers. The Spearman correlation was used to assess the tools' divergent and convergent validity.

Results

The internal consistency of PHQ-9 and GAD-7 was good, with alpha and omega values above 0.7 across study samples. CFA results indicated a one-factor structure of the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 for both nurses/midwives and CHVs. Multi-group CFA showed that both scales were unidimensional across both language and sex. The PHQ-9 and GAD-7 were significantly negatively correlated with resilience and work engagement, supporting divergent validity. The PHQ-9 and GAD-7 were also significantly positively correlated with resilience and work engagement, supporting divergent validity.

Conclusion

The PHQ-9 and GAD-7 are unidimensional, reliable, and valid tools for screening depression and anxiety among nurses/midwives and CHVs. The tools can be administered in a similar population or study setting using either Swahili or English.

Cross-sectional study to assess depression among healthcare workers in Lusaka, Zambia during the COVID-19 pandemic

OBJECTIVES

We sought to assess depression among healthcare workers (HCWs) in the context of COVID-19 in Lusaka Province, Zambia.

DESIGN

This cross-sectional study is nested within a larger study, the Person-Centred Public Health for HIV Treatment in Zambia (PCPH), a cluster-randomised trial to assess HIV care and outcomes.

SETTING

The research was conducted in 24 government-run health facilities from 11 August to 15 October 2020 during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Lusaka, Zambia.

PARTICIPANTS

We used convenience sampling to recruit HCW participants who were previously enrolled in the PCPH study, had more than 6 months' experience working at the facility and were voluntarily willing to participate.

PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES

We implemented the well-validated 9-question Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) to assess HCW depression. We used mixed-effects, adjusted Poisson regression to estimate the marginal probability of HCWs experiencing depression that may warrant intervention (PHQ-9 score ≥5) by healthcare facility.

RESULTS

We collected PHQ-9 survey responses from 713 professional and lay HCWs. Overall, 334 (46.8%, 95% CI 43.1%, 50.6%) HCWs recorded a PHQ-9 score ≥5, indicating the need for further assessment and potential intervention for depression. We identified significant heterogeneity across facilities and observed a greater proportion of HCWs with symptoms of depression in facilities providing COVID-19 testing and treatment services.

CONCLUSIONS

Depression may be a concern for a large proportion of HCWs in Zambia. Further work to understand the magnitude and aetiologies of depression among HCWs in the public sector is needed to design effective prevention and treatment interventions to meet the needs for mental health support and to minimise poor health outcomes.

The COVID-19 pandemic and mental health outcomes - A cross-sectional study among health care workers in Coastal South India

Background: Frontline health care workers (HCWs) are at increased risk of developing unfavourable mental health outcomes and burnout, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recognizing the early warning signs of mental distress is very important to ensure the provision of quality patient care. Methods: In this facility-based cross-sectional study, HCWs of the teaching hospitals affiliated to Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore were assessed regarding their mental health status using a semi-structured questionnaire. All doctors and nurses who were willing to participate from these teaching hospitals were included in the study. Data was collected over a period of four months (1 st March -30 th June 2021) till the required sample size was reached and analysed using IBM SPSS and expressed using mean (standard deviation), median (interquartile range), and proportions. Univariate analysis was done to identify the factors associated with mental health outcomes among the HCWs and the corresponding unadjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence interval were reported. Results: A total of 245 HCWs [52.2% (n=128) doctors and 47.8% (n=117) nurses] were included in our study. The proportion of participants with depressive symptoms, anxiety, and insomnia assessed using PHQ-9, GAD-7, and ISI-7 scales were 49% (n=119), 38% (n=93), and 42% (n=102) respectively. Depression, anxiety, and insomnia were more likely to be experienced by HCWs aged > 27 years, females, and involved in COVID-19 patient care. (p>0.05) Conclusions:  Our findings that 38% of the examined HCWs had clinically relevant anxiety symptoms and 49% had clinically relevant depression symptoms draws attention to the importance of systematically tracking the mental health of HCWs during this ongoing pandemic. HCWs should monitor their stress reactions and seek appropriate help both on a personal and professional level. Appropriate workplace interventions including psychological support should be provided to HCWs, to ensure provision of uncompromised quality patient care.

The COVID-19 pandemic and mental health outcomes - A cross-sectional study among health care workers in Coastal South India

Background: Frontline health care workers (HCWs) are at increased risk of developing unfavourable mental health outcomes and burnout, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recognizing the early warning signs of mental distress is very important to ensure the provision of quality patient care. Methods: In this facility-based cross-sectional study, HCWs of the teaching hospitals affiliated to Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore were assessed regarding their mental health status using a semi-structured questionnaire. All doctors and nurses who were willing to participate from these teaching hospitals were included in the study. Data was collected over a period of four months (1 st March -30 th June 2021) till the required sample size was reached and analysed using IBM SPSS and expressed using mean (standard deviation), median (interquartile range), and proportions. Univariate analysis was done to identify the factors associated with mental health outcomes among the HCWs and the corresponding unadjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence interval were reported. Results: A total of 245 HCWs [52.2% (n=128) doctors and 47.8% (n=117) nurses] were included in our study. The proportion of participants with depressive symptoms, anxiety, and insomnia assessed using PHQ-9, GAD-7, and ISI-7 scales were 49% (n=119), 38% (n=93), and 42% (n=102) respectively. Depression, anxiety, and insomnia were more likely to be experienced by HCWs aged > 27 years, females, and involved in COVID-19 patient care. (p>0.05) Conclusions:  Our findings that 38% of the examined HCWs had clinically relevant anxiety symptoms and 49% had clinically relevant depression symptoms draws attention to the importance of systematically tracking the mental health of HCWs during this ongoing pandemic. HCWs should monitor their stress reactions and seek appropriate help both on a personal and professional level. Appropriate workplace interventions including psychological support should be provided to HCWs, to ensure provision of uncompromised quality patient care.

Anxiety and stress among healthcare professionals during COVID-19 in Ethiopia: systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

This study intended to assess the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on anxiety and stress among healthcare professionals in Ethiopia.

DESIGN

This study applied a design of systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

DATA SOURCES

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA AND OUTCOMES: Observational studies examining anxiety and stress among healthcare professionals in Ethiopia following COVID-19 pandemic were considered. The primary outcomes were the prevalence of anxiety and stress and the secondary outcomes were factors associated to the prevalence of anxiety and stress.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS

Two authors extracted the data and performed quality assessment independently. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to evaluate the quality of eligible studies. Random-effect model with the inverse variance method was used to estimate the pooled effect size of the outcome variables with its 95% CI. Publication bias was checked by DOI plot and Luis Furuya Kanamori index. Stata V.14.0 (StataCorp) software was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Thirteen studies were included. From eight studies the pooled prevalence of anxiety was 46% (95% CI 0.30% to 0.61%, τ²=0.0497, I²=99.07%, p<0.001). Nine studies reported about stress and the pooled prevalence was 51% (95% CI 0.41% to 0.62%, τ²=0.0253, I²=97.85%, p<0.001)). Age, sex, marital status, working department, history of contact with confirmed COVID-19 cases and profession were associated factors for high level of anxiety and stress.

CONCLUSIONS

COVID-19 pandemic highly affects mental health of healthcare professionals in Ethiopia. Anxiety and stress were among reported mental health problems among healthcare professionals during the pandemic. Timely psychological counselling programmes should be applied for healthcare professionals to improve the general mental health problems.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42022314865.

Post-traumatic stress in healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic has increased healthcare worker (HCW) susceptibility to mental illness. We conducted a meta-analysis to investigate the prevalence and possible factors associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among HCW during the COVID-19 pandemic. We searched PubMed, SCOPUS and EMBASE databases up to May 4th, 2022. We performed random effects meta-analysis and moderator analyses for the prevalence of PTSD-relevant symptoms and severe PTSD symptoms. We identified 1276 studies, reviewed 209 full-text articles, and included 119 studies (117,143 participants) with a total of 121 data points in our final analysis. 34 studies (24,541 participants) reported prevalence of severe PTSD symptoms. Approximately 25.2% of participants were physicians, 42.8% nurses, 12.4% allied health professionals, 8.9% auxiliary health professionals, and 10.8% "other". The pooled prevalence of PTSD symptoms among HCWs was 34% (95% CI, 0.30-0.39, I² >90%), and 14% for severe PTSD (95% CI, 0.11 - 0.17, I² >90%). The introduction of COVID vaccines was associated with a sharp decline in the prevalence of PTSD, and new virus variants were associated with small increases in PTSD rates. It is important that policies work towards allocating adequate resources towards protecting the well-being of healthcare workers to minimize adverse consequences of PTSD.

Improvement of the psychosocial support for frontline nurses in public hospitals during COVID-19 pandemic

AIM

The aim of this study was to explore and describe the psychosocial support for frontline nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Tshwane district, Gauteng Province, South Africa.

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a lot of psychosocial distress for frontline nurses taking care of COVID-19 patients. The frontline nurses were scared of being infected with COVID-19, or exposing their families and loved ones to the risk of infection. A high number of nurses were infected with COVID-19, and some died due to the virus.

EVALUATION

This study followed a qualitative, explorative, and descriptive research design. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and individual interviews were conducted. Seventeen participants, who consisted of all categories of nurses taking care of COVID-19 patients, were interviewed until data saturation was reached. Non-probability sampling method was used as a technique to select the participants. Data were analysed using Tesch's method of open coding.

KEY ISSUES

The following five themes are identified: (1) acknowledgement, appreciation, and recognition of frontline nurses, (2) conducive managerial practices, (3) debriefing and training of frontline nurses, (4) human resources support, and (5) psychological and social support for frontline nurses and their families.

CONCLUSION

The implementation of the psychosocial support for frontline nurses taking care of COVID-19 patients is critical in improving patient care.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

The findings of this study should alert nurse managers to plan the best way to support frontline nurses caring for COVID-19 patients.

Challenges and Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health: A Systematic Review

The measures put in place to contain the rapid spread of COVID-19 infection, such as quarantine, self-isolation, and lockdown, were supportive but have significantly affected the mental wellbeing of individuals. The primary goal of this study was to review the impact of COVID-19 on mental health. An intensive literature search was conducted using PsycINFO, PsyciatryOnline, PubMed, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases. Articles published between January 2020 and June 2022 were retrieved and appraised. Reviews and retrospective studies were excluded. One hundred and twenty-two (122) relevant articles that fulfilled the inclusion criteria were finally selected. A high prevalence of anxiety, depression, insomnia, and post-traumatic stress disorders was reported. Alcohol and substance abuse, domestic violence, stigmatization, and suicidal tendencies have all been identified as direct consequences of lockdown. The eminent risk factors for mental health disorders identified during COVID-19 include fear of infection, history of mental illness, poor financial status, female gender, and alcohol drinking. The protective factors for mental health include higher income levels, public awareness, psychological counseling, social and government support. Overall, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a number of mental disorders in addition to economic hardship. This strongly suggests the need to monitor the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health.

Psychological distress among healthcare workers accessing occupational health services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe

BACKGROUND

Healthcare workers (HCWs) have experienced anxiety and psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. We established and report findings from an occupational health programme for HCWs in Zimbabwe that offered screening for SARS-CoV-2 with integrated screening for comorbidities including common mental disorder (CMD) and referral for counselling.

METHODS

Quantitative outcomes were fearfulness about COVID-19, the Shona Symptom Questionnaire (SSQ-14) score (cutpoint 8/14) and the number and proportion of HCWs offered referral for counselling, accepting referral and counselled. We used chi square tests to identify factors associated with fearfulness, and logistic regression was used to model the association of fearfulness with wave, adjusting for variables identified using a DAG. Qualitative data included 18 in-depth interviews, two workshops conducted with HCWs and written feedback from counsellors, analysed concurrently with data collection using thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Between 27 July 2020-31 July 2021, spanning three SARS-CoV-2 waves, the occupational health programme was accessed by 3577 HCWs from 22 facilities. The median age was 37 (IQR 30-43) years, 81.9% were women, 41.7% said they felt fearful about COVID-19 and 12.1% had an SSQ-14 score ≥ 8. A total of 501 HCWs were offered referral for counselling, 78.4% accepted and 68.9% had ≥1 counselling session. Adjusting for setting and role, wave 2 was associated with increased fearfulness over wave 1 (OR = 1.26, 95% CI 1.00-1.60). Qualitative data showed high levels of anxiety, psychosomatic symptoms and burnout related to the pandemic. Mental wellbeing was affected by financial insecurity, unmet physical health needs and inability to provide quality care within a fragile health system.

CONCLUSIONS

HCWs in Zimbabwe experience a high burden of mental health symptoms, intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic. Sustainable mental health interventions must be multisectoral addressing mental, physical and financial wellbeing.

The association between sleep and psychological distress among New York City healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

Healthcare workers (HCWs) treating patients with COVID-19 report psychological distress. We examined whether disturbed sleep was associated with psychological distress in New York City (NYC) HCWs during the initial peak of the COVID-19 pandemic (April-May 2020).

METHODS

HCWs completed a survey screening for acute stress (4-item Primary Care PTSD screen), depressive (Patient Health Questionaire-2), and anxiety (2-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale) symptoms. Insomnia symptoms (modified item from the Insomnia Severity Index) and short sleep (SS, sleep duration <6 h/day) were assessed. Poisson regression analyses predicting psychological distress from SS and insomnia symptoms, adjusting for demographics, clinical role/setting, redeployment status, shifts worked, and multiple comparisons were performed.

RESULTS

Among 813 HCWs (80.6% female, 59.0% white) mean sleep duration was 5.8 ± 1.2 h/night. Prevalence of SS, insomnia, acute stress, depressive, and anxiety symptoms were 38.8%, 72.8%, 57.9%, 33.8%, and 48.2%, respectively. Insomnia symptoms was associated with acute stress (adjusted prevalence ratio [PR]: 1.51, 95% CI: 1.35, 1.69), depressive (PR: 2.04, 95% CI: 1.78, 2.33), and anxiety (PR: 1.74, 95% CI: 1.55, 1.94) symptoms. SS was also associated with acute stress (PR: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.07, 1.29), depressive (PR: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.233, 1.51), and anxiety (PR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.26, 1.50) symptoms.

LIMITATIONS

Our cross-sectional analysis may preclude the identification of temporal associations and limit causal claims.

CONCLUSIONS

In our study, SS and insomnia were associated with psychological distress symptoms in NYC HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sleep may be a target for interventions to decrease psychological distress among HCWs.

'This bloody rona!': using the digital story completion method and thematic analysis to explore the mental health impacts of COVID-19 in Australia

OBJECTIVE

To use the digital story completion method to prompt participants to describe thoughts, fears and mental health experiences in response to a story stem about COVID-19, to capture a specific sociohistoric moment.

DESIGN

We used digital story completion, a qualitative research method, to gather narratives from Australians coping with physical distancing and social restriction measures. Our reflexive thematic analysis of the data was underpinned by a constructionist approach to reflect the importance of social context in understanding health experiences.

SETTING

Australia.

PARTICIPANTS

52 people living in Australia (aged 18 years and over).

RESULTS

Four meta-themes were prevalent across 52 stories submitted: (1) expressions of mental distress linked to COVID-19; (2) various coping strategies offered by characters in stories; (3) narratives outlining social support offered to alleviate distress; and (4) specialised COVID-19 vocabulary.

CONCLUSION

We cautiously propose that points of convergence across stories indicate a level of shared experience among participants relating to COVID-19 in Australia. We suggest this is due to intensive media coverage of the pandemic, persistent public health messaging, engagement with social media and instant messaging technologies, and extended lockdowns that impacted the mental health of vast numbers of Australians.

Prevalência de transtornos mentais em profissionais de saúde durante a pandemia da COVID-19: revisão sistemática

RESUMO Objetivo: Realizar uma revisão sistemática da literatura avaliando a prevalência de transtornos mentais em profissionais da saúde durante a pandemia da COVID-19. Métodos: Trata-se de revisão sistemática conduzida com base no checklist Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). As bases de dados usadas foram a Biblioteca Virtual de Saúde (BVS) e os serviços da United States National Library of Medicine (NLM) via PubMed, com as estratégias de busca: “COVID-19” AND “Saúde mental”; “COVID-19” AND “Saúde mental” AND “pessoal de saúde”, em português e inglês, selecionando artigos observacionais e/ou de prevalência publicados a partir de 2020. Resultados: A busca resultou na identificação de 18.643 artigos, e a amostra final foi composta por 9 artigos. Os sintomas mais frequentes foram os de depressão, ansiedade e insônia em profissionais que atuaram no período da pandemia da COVID-19, predominantemente do sexo feminino e idade média de 34,5 anos. A média da prevalência de ansiedade, depressão e insônia foi, respectivamente, de 40,3%, 39,9% e 36,1%, aferidas em 8.866 profissionais da saúde. Os profissionais atuantes na linha de frente no combate à COVID-19 apresentaram maiores prevalências de transtornos mentais comuns em relação a outros profissionais de saúde. Conclusões: Mostraram-se associadas a maiores prevalências de sintomas de TMC: sexo feminino, atuação na linha de frente, maior jornada de trabalho, histórico de uso de medicamentos psicotrópicos, condições inadequadas de trabalho, uso de álcool e tabaco e atuação na área de enfermagem. Observa-se a importância de estratégias de atenção à saúde mental dos profissionais de saúde.

Harmful Alcohol Use Among Healthcare Workers at the Beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Kenya

BACKGROUND

Healthcare workers play a key role in responding to pandemics like the on-going COVID-19 one. Harmful alcohol use among them could result in inefficiencies in health service delivery. This is particularly concerning in sub-Saharan Africa where the health workforce is already constrained. The aim of this study is to document the burden and correlates of harmful alcohol use among healthcare workers at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya with the aim of informing policy and practice.

METHODS

This study was a cross-sectional analysis of data obtained from a parent online survey that investigated the burden and factors associated with mental disorders among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya. We analyzed data obtained from a sub-population of 887 participants who completed the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test questionnaire. We used descriptive statistics to summarize the socio-demographic characteristics of the participants and multivariate analysis to determine the factors associated with harmful alcohol use.

RESULTS

Three hundred and eighty nine (43.9%) participants reported harmful alcohol use. The factors significantly associated with increased odds of endorsing harmful alcohol use were: being male (AOR = 1.56; 95% CI = 1.14, 2.14; p = 0.006), being unmarried (AOR = 2.06; 95% CI = 1.48, 2.89; p < 0.001), having 11-20 years of experience as compared to having 20+ years of experience (AOR = 1.91; 95% CI = 1.18, 3.12; p = 0.009), and being a specialist (AOR = 2.78; CI = 1.64, 4.78; p = < 0.001) or doctor (AOR = 2.82; 95% CI = 1.74, 4.63; p < 0.001) as compared to being a nurse.

CONCLUSIONS

A high proportion of healthcare workers reported harmful alcohol use at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya. Males, the unmarried, those with 11-20 years of experience in the health field, doctors and specialists, were more likely to report harmful alcohol use. These findings highlight the need to institute interventions for harmful alcohol use targeting these groups of healthcare workers in Kenya during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to optimize functioning of the available workforce.

Factors Affecting Length of Inpatient Forensic Stay: Retrospective Study From Czechia

OBJECTIVES

The length of forensic stay (LoS) is a subject to country-specific legal and service systems. Therefore, the identification of common factors targetable by treatment is at the forefront of forensic psychiatric research. In this study, we present the first reports of forensic characteristics of patients from the Czechia.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of data from 260 inpatients discharged from the Bohnice Hospital (Prague) and obtained a set of sociodemographic and clinical variables as well as the Health of the Nation Outcome Scale (HoNOS) and HoNOS-secure scores.

RESULTS

The following variables were identified as significantly associated with a longer LoS: older age, length of previous psychiatric hospitalization, olanzapine equivalent, clozapine treatment, psychosocial dysfunction, psychotic or paraphilic disorder diagnosis, and sexual offense. A shorter LoS was associated with being in a relationship, being employed before hospitalization, receiving personal support, and committing an index offense under the influence of substance. While the HoNOS score and HoNOS symptom subscale predicted a longer LoS, the HoNOS-secure subscale predicted a shorter stay.

CONCLUSION

In the European context, our hospital has a relatively low LoS. The results are consistent with findings linking psychotic disorders and paraphilia with a longer LoS in forensic treatment. Higher doses of antipsychotic medication or clozapine prescriptions were associated with a longer LoS. The results show a high level of unmet needs in this population, highlighting the importance of the availability of follow-up service.

SARS-CoV-2 transmission among health care workers in Iran: an urgent need for early identification and management

INTRODUCTION

By increasing the rate of COVID-19, particularly in developing countries such as Iran, high numbers of frontline service providers, including doctors and nurses, die and makes frontline healthcare workers (HCWs) more vulnerable to the psychological disorders, fear and anxiety of secondary transmission to others, especially their family members. In this study, we aimed to report the incidence of COVID-19 infection among HCWs in an Iranian referral pediatrics hospital between April 2020 and July 2020.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In this retrospective cross-sectional study, HCWs and hospital staff working at Children's Medical Center, Tehran, Iran with positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test results were evaluated between April 2020 and July 2020.

RESULTS

Sixty-one out of the 1085 personnel (5.6%) including 14 pediatricians (23%), 24 nurses (39%), 9 paramedics (15%), and 14 HCWs without direct patient contact (23%) had a nasopharyngeal specimen positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test. The mean age was 39.8±10.6 years. Eleven cases (18%) had underlying diseases such as hypertension and asthma. The most common symptoms were fatigue (67%, n=41), dry cough (61%, n=37), fever (52%, n=32), headache (46%, n=28), dyspnea (43%, n=24), anosmia (28%, n=17), chills (26%, n=16), sore throat (26%, n=16), gastrointestinal symptoms (23%, n=14), and productive cough (3%, n=2). Eleven cases (18%) showed lung involvement in their chest X-rays and/or CT scans. Eighteen cases (29.5%) had lymphopenia, and 20 individuals (33%) had a high level of C-reactive protein.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, in the early phase of the COVID-19 outbreak, a substantial proportion of HCWs with fever, respiratory, and other prevalent symptoms including fatigue and headache were infected with SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, implementation of infection prevention measures, isolation of confirmed HCWs, disinfection of the environment, and regular COVID-19 prevention training for HCWs are strongly recommended for the wellbeing of health workers and minimizing the spread of infection.

Suicide in Healthcare Workers: Determinants, Challenges, and the Impact of COVID-19

The Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), which first appeared in Wuhan, China, and was later declared a pandemic, has caused significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Numerous efforts have been made worldwide to understand the disease's physical manifestation. However, less emphasis has been placed on the pandemic's mental health challenges for healthcare workers (HCWs) who played a critical role in fighting the disease. Existing literature shows the detrimental psychological impact and increased incidence of depression and anxiety among HCWs. It is expected that the mental health crisis will become a serious issue affecting HCWs, with long-term negative consequences following COVID. Physicians and nurses already represent the highest risk groups of suicide among the general population, and suicide can be regarded as an occupational hazard in the healthcare industry. Increased workload, burnout and fatigue, multifaceted challenges women HCWs, and increased substance abuse are contributing factors to suicide ideation. In this article, we identify the risk factors of suicide among HCWs, discuss mental health challenges exacerbated by the pandemic and its impact on suicide ideation.

Job satisfaction among healthcare workers in Ghana and Kenya during the COVID-19 pandemic: Role of perceived preparedness, stress, and burnout

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected job satisfaction among healthcare workers; yet this has not been empirically examined in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We addressed this gap by examining job satisfaction and associated factors among healthcare workers in Ghana and Kenya during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a cross-sectional study with healthcare workers (N = 1012). The two phased data collection included: (1) survey data collected in Ghana from April 17 to May 31, 2020, and (2) survey data collected in Ghana and Kenya from November 9, 2020, to March 8, 2021. We utilized a quantitative measure of job satisfaction, as well as validated psychosocial measures of perceived preparedness, stress, and burnout; and conducted descriptive, bivariable, and multivariable analysis using ordered logistic regression. We found high levels of job dissatisfaction (38.1%), low perceived preparedness (62.2%), stress (70.5%), and burnout (69.4%) among providers. High perceived preparedness was positively associated with higher job satisfaction (adjusted proportional odds ratio (APOR) = 2.83, CI [1.66,4.84]); while high stress and burnout were associated with lower job satisfaction (APOR = 0.18, CI [0.09,0.37] and APOR = 0.38, CI [0.252,0.583] for high stress and burnout respectively). Other factors positively associated with job satisfaction included prior job satisfaction, perceived appreciation from management, and perceived communication from management. Fear of infection was negatively associated with job satisfaction. The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted job satisfaction among healthcare workers. Inadequate preparedness, stress, and burnout are significant contributing factors. Given the already strained healthcare system and low morale among healthcare workers in SSA, efforts are needed to increase preparedness, better manage stress and burnout, and improve job satisfaction, especially during the pandemic.