Mental health status and influencing factors of China medical team members in Africa during COVID-19

ABSTRACT

Objective: To analyze the mental health status and influencing factors of China medical team (CMT) members in Africa during COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: From July 2021 to August 2021, 72 members of the 8th CMT in Malawi, the 36th CMT in Sudan and the 22nd CMT in Zambia were tested by 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and Patient Health Questionnaire-9(PHQ-9), general information form and influencing factors form. Results: The results of GHQ-12 were positive for 33.3% (24/72) of the CMT members. 51.4% (37/72) of the CMT members showed different levels of anxiety 40.3% (29/72) of them had mild anxiety, 8.3% (6/72) of them had moderate anxiety, and 2.8% (2/72) of them had severe anxiety. 52.8% (38/72) of the CMT members had different degrees of depression 34.7% (25/72) of them had mild depression, 11.1% (8/72) of them had moderate depression, 4.2% (3/72) of them had moderate-severe depression, and 2.8% (2/72) of them had severe depression. The CMT members who contacted with COVID-19 patients got significantly high scores of GHQ-12, GAD-7 and PHQ-9 (P<0.05) compared to those who did not have contact with COVID-19 patients. And CMT members who did not adapt to the local social life got significantly higher scores than those who adapted to the local social life (P<0.05). These factors were the main factors affecting the mental health of the CMT members. Conclusion: During COVID-19, the psychological pressure of CMT members was increased significantly, and both the incidence and severity of anxiety and depression were increased. Paying attention to and improving CMT members' mental health status can ensure the smooth development of medical aid to Africa.