The psychological impact, risk factors and coping strategies to COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare workers in the sub-Saharan Africa: a narrative review of existing literature.

BACKGROUND: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the physical and mental health of the general population worldwide, with healthcare workers at particular risk. The pandemic's effect on healthcare workers' mental well-being has been characterized by depression, anxiety, work-related stress, sleep disturbances, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Hence, protecting the mental well-being of healthcare workers (HCWs) is a considerable priority. This review aimed to determine risk factors for adverse mental health outcomes and protective or coping measures to mitigate the harmful effects of the COVID-19 crisis among HCWs in sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS: We performed a literature search using PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, and Embase for relevant materials. We obtained all articles published between March 2020 and April 2022 relevant to the subject of review and met pre-defined eligibility criteria. We selected 23 articles for initial screening and included 12 in the final review. RESULT: A total of 5,323 participants in twelve studies, predominantly from Ethiopia (eight studies), one from Uganda, Cameroon, Mali, and Togo, fulfilled the eligibility criteria. Investigators found 16.3-71.9% of HCWs with depressive symptoms, 21.9-73.5% with anxiety symptoms, 15.5-63.7% experienced work-related stress symptoms, 12.4-77% experienced sleep disturbances, and 51.6-56.8% reported PTSD symptoms. Healthcare workers, working in emergency, intensive care units, pharmacies, and laboratories were at higher risk of adverse mental health impacts. HCWs had deep fear, anxious and stressed with the high transmission rate of the virus, high death rates, and lived in fear of infecting themselves and families. Other sources of fear and work-related stress were the lack of PPEs, availability of treatment and vaccines to protect themselves against the virus. HCWs faced stigma, abuse, financial problems, and lack of support from employers and communities. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and PTSD in HCWs in sub-Saharan Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic has been high. Several organizational, community, and work-related challenges and interventions were identified, including improvement of workplace infrastructures, adoption of correct and shared infection control measures, provision of PPEs, social support, and implementation of resilience training programs. Setting up permanent multidisciplinary mental health teams at regional and national levels to deal with mental health and providing psychological support to HCWs, supported with long-term surveillance, are recommended.

A Review Study on the impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health in the workplace and on working people

Introduction: The Coronavirus Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected many social organisations with the workplace being amongst those most affected. Organisation faced the challenge of continued productivity during a global health crisis. Employees have shown signs of fatigue caused by living with the persistent fear and anxiety of falling sick and this which can consequently resulted in a reduction in productivity and frequently reduced income. Measures that were introduced to keep people safe such as social distancing, lockdowns, new working styles together with necessary lifestyle changes such as social isolation have reinforced feelings of uncertainty and fear amongst the workforce. These factors have influenced the mental health of workers and will continue to do so as society reorganise and make the changes necessary to accommodate new systems. Purpose: The purpose of this literature review is to conceptualize the psychological aspects linked to workplace factors following the rise of COVID-19 to epidemic proportions and in order to address upcoming psychological critical issues in the workplaces. Method: This literature study proceeded a search engine using Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus, using keywords SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 pandemic, occupational health and safety, mental health, psychological disorders, COVID 19 and working people, workplace organization and selected 30 articles out of thirty 20 articles were analyzed corroding to researchers need. The literature information is further narrated and draws on insights of the researcher. Conclusion: The review study conceptualizes the pandemic spread of COVID-19 and reviews its effect in the workplace as companies reorganize and establish new patterns of operations in response the COVID-19 virus and to ensure precautionary measure against further spread of the disease. The adaptations necessary in the wake of this disease have novel reorganization in both structural and functional areas. The workforce at the workplace underwent loss of its psychological homeostasis. The mitigation which ensured has led to multiple organizational and work-related interventions intended to be instrumental in defending health-related safety in the workplaces. © RJPT All right reserved.

COVID-19-Related Mental Health Effects in the Workplace: A Narrative Review.

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has deeply altered social and working environments in several ways. Social distancing policies, mandatory lockdowns, isolation periods, and anxiety of getting sick, along with the suspension of productive activity, loss of income, and fear of the future, jointly influence the mental health of citizens and workers. Workplace aspects can play a crucial role on moderating or worsening mental health of people facing this pandemic scenario. The purpose of this literature review is to deepen the psychological aspects linked to workplace factors, following the epidemic rise of COVID-19, in order to address upcoming psychological critical issues in the workplaces. We performed a literature search using Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus, selecting papers focusing on workers' psychological problems that can be related to the workplace during the pandemic. Thirty-five articles were included. Mental issues related to the health emergency, such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and sleep disorders are more likely to affect healthcare workers, especially those on the frontline, migrant workers, and workers in contact with the public. Job insecurity, long periods of isolation, and uncertainty of the future worsen the psychological condition, especially in younger people and in those with a higher educational background. Multiple organizational and work-related interventions can mitigate this scenario, such as the improvement of workplace infrastructures, the adoption of correct and shared anti-contagion measures, including regular personal protective equipment (PPE) supply, and the implementation of resilience training programs. This review sets the basis for a better understanding of the psychological conditions of workers during the pandemic, integrating individual and social perspectives, and providing insight into possible individual, social, and occupational approaches to this "psychological pandemic".