Quality of Life and its Association with Depression, Anxiety and Stress among Environmental Health Officer (EHO) and Assistant Environmental Health Officer (AEHO) in Selangor during 2019 Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19)

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Environmental Health Officers (EHO) and Assistant Environmental Health Officers (AEHO), are among the front liners involved in combating COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia. The overburdening strain, prolonged working hours, and inability to take time off have had an indirect psychological impact on them, resulting in a quality-of-life imbalance. Hence, the aim of this study was to investigate the likelihood and associated factors contributing to depression, anxiety, stress, and Quality of Life (QoL) of EHO and AEHO in Selangor during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 170 participants was conducted in Selangor through the distribution of an online survey. The survey comprised of sociodemographic data, Depression, Anxiety and Stress Screening 21 Item Questionnaire (DASS-21) and Short Form 36 Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36). Results: Approximately, 54.7%, 68.8% and 25.9% of respondents suffered from depression, anxiety, and stress, respectively. Marital status was the only factor associated with stress among the respondents. The tested domains of QoL such as physical functioning, social functioning and emotional well-being showed a decrease in mean value when compared to Malaysian norm. It was observed that the QoL was afflicted with gender, marital status, and number of children. The study also proved that there are significant negative correlations between QoL with depression, anxiety, and stress. Conclusion: Reduced QoL among environmental health practitioners was associated with depression, anxiety, and stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Government agencies or employers should impose an intervention programme, such as work rescheduling or a day off, to restore balance. © 2022 UPM Press. All rights reserved.