A cross-sectional study on the mental health of healthcare workers treating COVID-19 positive patients in Gauteng, South Africa.

A considerable proportion of healthcare workers reported symptoms of depression, anxiety, and insomnia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• 43.6% of HCWs (n=102) reported symptoms of depression as measured by the PHQ-9
• 44.9% of HCWs (n=105) reported symptoms of anxiety as measured by the GAD-7
• 29.9% of HCWs (n=70) reported symptoms of insomnia as measured by the ISI-7
• Total sample comprised 234 completed surveys out of 260 contacted individuals

There were no statistically significant differences in symptoms of depression, anxiety, or insomnia between public and private sector healthcare workers.

• Depression: X2=4.8, p>0.05
• Anxiety: X2=0.8, p>0.05
• Insomnia: X2=2.1, p>0.05
• The majority of participants worked in the public sector (n=151, 64.5%) while the minority worked in the private sector (n=83, 35.5%)

Perceptions about the existence of psychological services differed substantially between public and private sector healthcare workers.

• 49.1% of all participants indicated that psychological services existed in their place of work, while 50.9% said they did not exist
• Perceptions that psychological services existed were more common among HCWs in private healthcare facilities (66.3%) than among HCWs in public healthcare facilities (39.7%)
• Psychosocial support systems requested by HCWs included mental health counselling, support groups, psychological services, and employee assistance programmes

The study sample was predominantly female, middle-aged, unmarried, and tertiary-educated.

• The majority of participants were female (n=190, 81.2%)
• The largest age group was 36 to 45 years (n=79, 33.8%)
• The majority were unmarried (n=105, 44.9%)
• 92.7% had a tertiary education (n=217)

The study was conducted as a cross-sectional survey among frontline healthcare workers in the Inner City and Johannesburg South region (region F) of Gauteng, South Africa.

• Data was collected through both an online and an in-person approach
• Validated instruments used included the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for depression, Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) for anxiety, and Insomnia Severity Index-7 (ISI-7) for insomnia
• Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 26.0 statistical software
• 234 out of 260 contacted individuals completed the survey