Perception of risk to covid-19 and mental health indicators in workers of a Peruvian hospital: An analytical cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT

Introduction COVID-19 has caused great fear on health professionals and could affect their mental health, therefore it is important to determine the association between the perception of risk to COVID-19 and mental health in workers of a Peruvian hospital. Methods Analytical cross-sectional study, through virtual survey. The dependent variables were depression, anxiety and stress;The independent variable was perception of risk to COVID-19 and the covariates sociodemographic, family, work and clinical data. Crude and adjusted prevalence ratios were found with a 95% confidence interval and a significance level of 5%. Results There was no association between risk perception and depression (adjusted prevalence ratio 0.98 95% confidence interval 0.89 to 1.08), anxiety (adjusted prevalence ratio 0.94 95% confidence interval 0.89 to 1.00), stress (adjusted prevalence ratio 0.89 95% confidence interval 0.76 to 1.04). In the multivariate analysis, an association was found between depression with direct contact with the COVID-19 patient (adjusted prevalence ratio 2.06, 95% confidence interval 1.14 to 3.70) and with having a comorbidity (adjusted prevalence ratio 2.56 95% confidence interval 1.52 to 4.30);likewise, between anxiety with number of children (adjusted prevalence ratio 1.09 95% confidence interval 1.00 to 1.18), with direct contact with COVID-19 patient (adjusted prevalence ratio 2.67 95% confidence interval 1.46 to 4.85) and having comorbidity (adjusted prevalence ratio 2.00 95% confidence interval 1.40 to 2.86);finally, between stress with direct contact with the COVID-19 patient (adjusted prevalence ratio 2.86, 95% confidence interval 1.20 to 6.83). Conclusions No statistically significant association was found between risk perception and depression, anxiety, or stress. However, there was an association between depression, anxiety, and stress, each with direct contact with COVID-19 patients;between anxiety and depression, each with having comorbidities and, finally, anxiety with the number of children.