Psychological distress among healthcare professionals in Mbarara, following the 2022 Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in Uganda: a mixed methods study

Joan Abaatyo; Godfrey Zari Rukundo; Margaret Twine; Dan Lutasingwa; Alain Favina; Novatus Nyemara; Rosemary Ricciardelli

doi:10.1186/s12888-024-05922-w

journal article Open Access Jun 25, 2024

Psychological distress among healthcare professionals in Mbarara, following the 2022 Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in Uganda: a mixed methods study

Joan Abaatyo Godfrey Zari Rukundo

Margaret Twine Dan Lutasingwa Alain Favina Novatus Nyemara Rosemary Ricciardelli

BMC Psychiatry Vol. 24 No. 1 · Springer Science and Business Media LLC

View at Publisher Save 10.1186/s12888-024-05922-w

Abstract

Abstract
Background
The 2022 Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak occurred at a time when Uganda was still battling the social and psychological challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic; placing health care professionals (HCPs) at a much higher risk of developing psychological distress. Psychological distress among HCPs can cause decreased workplace productivity and ineffective management of their patients. The current study aimed to investigate and understand psychological distress among HCPS in Mbarara city in Southwestern Uganda following the 2022 EVD outbreak.

Method
We enrolled 200 HCPs through convenient sampling from one private and one public health facility in Mbarara city in Southwestern Uganda, in a cross-sectional convergent parallel mixed method approach where qualitative and quantitative data were collected concurrently. Quantitative data, utilizing the Kessler Psychological Distress (K10) Scale, provided us with a quantitative measure of the prevalence of psychological distress among HCPs, and were analyzed using STATA version 16. Qualitative data, on the other hand, offered deeper insights into the nature, perceptions, and contextual factors influencing this distress, and were analyzed using emergent theme analysis.

Results
The prevalence of psychological distress was 59.5% and it was higher among females (63.9%) compared to males (36.1%). HCPs vividly expressed distress and anxiety, with heightened suspicion that every patient might be an EVD carrier, creating a pervasive sense of unsafety in the workplace. However, the outbreak had an educational affect where concerns about the announcement of another EVD outbreak were diverse, with HCPs expressing anxiety, despair, and dissatisfaction with the country’s management of potential outbreaks.

Conclusion
High levels of psychological distress were experienced by HCPs in Southwestern Uganda as a result of the 2022 EVD pandemic. HCPs express a wide range of feelings, such as dread, anxiety, despair, pessimism, and discontent with the way the outbreaks are handled throughout the nation. We recommend implementation of comprehensive psychosocial support programs tailored to the unique needs of HCPs, including counseling services, stress management workshops, and peer support networks.

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Details

Published: Jun 25, 2024
Vol/Issue: 24(1)
License: View

Authors

Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda

Rosemary Ricciardelli

Funding

Micro Research International, Canada Award: MR_22N_MUS_01

Cite This Article

Joan Abaatyo, Godfrey Zari Rukundo, Margaret Twine, et al. (2024). Psychological distress among healthcare professionals in Mbarara, following the 2022 Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in Uganda: a mixed methods study. BMC Psychiatry, 24(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-05922-w

Psychological distress among healthcare professionals in Mbarara, following the 2022 Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in Uganda: a mixed methods study

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