Psychosocial Effects of COVID-19 pandemic on Yemeni healthcare workers: A Web-based, Cross-sectional Survey

Gamil Ghaleb Alrubaiee, Mohammed Alsabri, Farouk Abdulrahman Al-Qadasi, Talal Ali Hussein Al-Qalah, Jennifer Cole, Yaser Abdullah Ghaleb Alburiahy

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Yemeni healthcare workers (HCWs) experience high levels of psychosocial stress. The current study provides a psychosocial assessment of Yemeni HCWs during the COVID19 pandemic and the factors that influence this. Between 6 November 2020, and 3 April 2021, 1220 HCWs inside Yemen self-reported levels of stress, anxiety, insomnia, depression and quality of life using a web-based, cross-sectional survey. According to the findings, 73.0%, 57.3%, 49.8%, 53.2%, and 85.2% of all HCWs reported moderate or severe stress, insomnia, anxiety, depression, and a lower quality of life, respectively. Significant positive correlations were found between stress and anxiety, insomnia, and depression scores, as well as anxiety and insomnia and depression, and insomnia and depression (p < 0.001). There was also a significant inverse relationship between wellbeing scores and stress, anxiety, insomnia, and depression scores (p < 0.001). A high percentage of respondents (85.8%) were 40 years old or younger and 72.7% had fewer than 10 years’ experience, suggesting that experienced medics leave Yemen for safer and more secure jobs elsewhere. Psychosocial support to assist in building resilience to the prevailing conditions may need to be embedded in medical school training and continuing professional development to help support HCWs within Yemen and prevent even more from leaving the country.
Original languageEnglish
Article number2174291
Number of pages10
JournalLibyan Journal of Medicine
Volume18
Issue number1
Early online date25 Feb 2023
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 25 Feb 2023

Keywords

  • SARS-CoV-2
  • COVID-19
  • Psychosocial effects
  • healthcare workers
  • Yemen

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