Open AccessThe prevalence and correlates of anxiety and depression amongst essential workers during the COVID-19 lockdown in Ekiti State, Nigeria
Author(s) -
Joshua Falade,
Adedayo Hakeem Oyebanji,
Abayomi M. Oshatimi,
Adefunke Olarinre Babatola,
Adefolurin Orekoya,
B A Eegunranti,
Olusola Olawumi Falade
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
south african journal of psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.425
H-Index - 13
eISSN - 2078-6786
pISSN - 1608-9685
DOI - 10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v28i0.1610
Subject(s) - anxiety , depression (economics) , pandemic , medicine , cross sectional study , covid-19 , mental health , odds ratio , demography , psychiatry , disease , infectious disease (medical specialty) , pathology , sociology , economics , macroeconomics
Background: Essential workers are imperative in the fight against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.Aim: To assess the prevalence and factors associated with anxiety and depression among essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown.Setting: This study was set in Ekiti State, Nigeria.Method: This was a cross-sectional study involving essential workers in Ekiti State Nigeria, during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown. A total of 588 essential workers were sampled. Online socio-demographic variables and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, a 14 item self-reported questionnaire were used.Results: The prevalence of anxiety and depression among the respondents was 93.4% (CI = 91.2–95.2) and 64.3% (CI = 60.4–68.4) respectively. Among the health workers, the prevalence of anxiety and depression were 96.5% (CI =94.8–98.1) and 66.5% (CI = 60.5–69.8) respectively while the prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms among non- health workers were 84.6% (CI = 78.7–90.1) and 61.5% (CI = 54.2–69.4) respectively. The odds ratio (OR) of depressive symptoms was increased among, respondents who were not satisfied with the support they received from the government during the pandemic (AOR = 2.071, CI = 1.350–2.213), respondents that were 35 years and younger (AOR = 1.512, CI = 1.033–2.213) and reduced amongst Christians (AOR = 0.501, CI = 0.286–0.879). The odd of anxiety was increased among health workers compared to non-health workers (AOR = 3.700, CI = 1.744–7.851) and the odds of anxiety was reduced among respondents with previous history of mental illness (AOR = 0.215, CI = 0.049–0.943).Conclusion: Anxiety and depressive symptoms were common mental illness among essential workers working during the COVID-19 lockdown, therefore their mental health should be adequately considered to sustain the fight against the virus.