ABSTRACT
Masalah kesihatan mental merupakan masalah kesihatan kedua yang menyerang rakyat Malaysia selepas penyakit jantung. Masalah kesihatan mental ini menjadi semakin serius sejak kerajaan melaksanakan perintah kawalan pergerakan (PKP) di seluruh Malaysia. Hal yang demikian telah memberikan impak yang sangat besar terhadap kelangsungan hidup semua peringkat masyarakat terutamanya golongan wanita. Golongan wanita adalah golongan yang amat terkesan dengan pelaksanaan PKP kerana mereka perlu memegang dan memainkan pelbagai peranan ketika di rumah seperti ibu, isteri, pekerja, suri rumah dan guru. Hal ini telah menjadikan kehidupan mereka lebih mencabar dan ini telah memberikan kesan kepada kesihatan mental mereka. Justeru, kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji impak PKP semasa pandemik COVID-19 terhadap kesihatan mental wanita dari segi tekanan psikologi iaitu kemurungan (depression) dan kebimbangan (anxiety). Kaedah kaji selidik secara atas talian dijalankan bersama 100 orang responden wanita. Instrumentasi kajian ini telah diadaptasikan daripada Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-4). Hasil dapatan kajian mendapati bahawa PKP memberikan impak kepada kesihatan mental wanita dari segi tekanan psikologi, kebimbangan dan kemurungan. Selain itu, faktor sosioekonomi juga mempengaruhi kesihatan mental wanita. Kajian ini memberikan kefahaman kepada masyarakat bahawa kesihatan mental wanita adalah isu yang sangat penting dan perlu dititikberatkan oleh semua lapisan masyarakat. Oleh itu, masalah kesihatan mental wanita perlulah menjadi agenda utama dalam pembangunan kesihatan mental wanita dan dalam memperkasakan peranan wanita di Malaysia. Intervensi yang bersesuaian juga perlu dilaksanakan oleh kerajaan dan pemegang taruh seperti menyediakan akses dan peluang interaksi sosial untuk membantu wanita mengekalkan kesihatan mental dan kualiti hidup.Alternate :Mental health problems are the second health problem that strikes Malaysians after the heart disease. This mental health problem has become more serious since the government implemented the movement control order (MCO) throughout Malaysia. This has had a great impact on the survival of all levels of society, especially women. Women are the ones who are deeply affected by the MCO because they have to hold and play various roles at home such as mothers, wives, workers, housewives and teachers. This has made their lives more challenging, and this has had an impact on their mental health. Hence, this study aims to study the impact of MCO during the COVID-19 pandemic on women's mental health in terms of psychological stress i.e. depression and anxiety. The online survey was conducted with 100 female respondents. Instrumentation of this study was adapted from patient health questionnaire (PHQ-4).The findings showed that MCO had an impact on women's mental health in terms of psychological stress, anxiety and depression. In addition, socioeconomic factors also affect women's mental health. This study provides an understanding to the community that women's mental health is a very important issue and should be emphasized by all levels of society. Therefore, women's mental health problems should be the main agenda in the development of women's mental health and in empowering the role of women in Malaysia. Appropriate interventions should also be implemented by the government and stakeholders such as providing access and opportunities for social interaction to help women maintaining mental health and quality of life.