Depression and quality of life among Afghan healthcare workers: A cross-sectional survey study
Abstract Background According to the World Health Organization, approximately 280 million individuals worldwide suffer from depression. One occupational group that is more prone to mental health issues is healthcare workers (HCWs). However, very little is known about the mental health of HCWs in Afg...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-023-01059-9 |
| _version_ | 1811171502032158720 |
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| author | Abdul Qadim Mohammadi Ahmad Neyazi Vanya Rangelova Bijaya Kumar Padhi Goodness Ogeyi Odey Molly Unoh Ogbodum Mark D. Griffiths |
| author_facet | Abdul Qadim Mohammadi Ahmad Neyazi Vanya Rangelova Bijaya Kumar Padhi Goodness Ogeyi Odey Molly Unoh Ogbodum Mark D. Griffiths |
| author_sort | Abdul Qadim Mohammadi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background According to the World Health Organization, approximately 280 million individuals worldwide suffer from depression. One occupational group that is more prone to mental health issues is healthcare workers (HCWs). However, very little is known about the mental health of HCWs in Afghanistan. Therefore, the present study examined depression, quality of life (QOL), and related factors among Afghan HCWs. Methods A cross-sectional survey was administered in June 2022 among healthcare workers (N = 299) in the Herat province of Afghanistan. The survey examined depression, its risk factors and predictors among HCWs. Results Of the 299 participants, 73.6% of them reported depression symptoms. Low monthly income, working in a private hospital, and being a cigarette smoker were some of the main variables associated with depression symptoms among Afghan HCWs. Multiple regression analysis indicated that field of work (aOR = 3.774, p = 0.0048), monthly income (aOR = 0.746, p = 0.0088), job type (aOR = 8.970, p < 0.0001), cigarette smoking (aOR = 2.955, p = 0.0069), a bad event happening during the past month (aOR = 2.433, p = 0.0157), physical domain of quality of life (aOR = 0.966, p = 0.0186), and psychological domain of quality of life (aOR = 0.950, p = 0.0005) were significantly associated with depression symptoms. Conclusion The prevalence of depression symptoms is high among healthcare workers in the Herat province of Afghanistan. One of the variables found to have a major impact on the prevalence of depression was their monthly income. Considering its impact on quality of life and the overall quality of healthcare services, the government should implement regular screening for depression, psychological counselling services, and psychiatric treatment for vulnerable healthcare workers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T17:15:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5b3c79a78d214993b3c716d6ec1fe162 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-7283 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T17:15:04Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-5b3c79a78d214993b3c716d6ec1fe1622023-02-05T12:27:29ZengBMCBMC Psychology2050-72832023-01-011111810.1186/s40359-023-01059-9Depression and quality of life among Afghan healthcare workers: A cross-sectional survey studyAbdul Qadim Mohammadi0Ahmad Neyazi1Vanya Rangelova2Bijaya Kumar Padhi3Goodness Ogeyi Odey4Molly Unoh Ogbodum5Mark D. Griffiths6Mental Health Ward, Herat Regional HospitalAfghanistan Center for Epidemiological StudiesDepartment of Epidemiology and Disaster Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University PlovdivDepartment of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER)Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of CalabarDepartment of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of CalabarDepartment of Psychology, Nottingham Trent UniversityAbstract Background According to the World Health Organization, approximately 280 million individuals worldwide suffer from depression. One occupational group that is more prone to mental health issues is healthcare workers (HCWs). However, very little is known about the mental health of HCWs in Afghanistan. Therefore, the present study examined depression, quality of life (QOL), and related factors among Afghan HCWs. Methods A cross-sectional survey was administered in June 2022 among healthcare workers (N = 299) in the Herat province of Afghanistan. The survey examined depression, its risk factors and predictors among HCWs. Results Of the 299 participants, 73.6% of them reported depression symptoms. Low monthly income, working in a private hospital, and being a cigarette smoker were some of the main variables associated with depression symptoms among Afghan HCWs. Multiple regression analysis indicated that field of work (aOR = 3.774, p = 0.0048), monthly income (aOR = 0.746, p = 0.0088), job type (aOR = 8.970, p < 0.0001), cigarette smoking (aOR = 2.955, p = 0.0069), a bad event happening during the past month (aOR = 2.433, p = 0.0157), physical domain of quality of life (aOR = 0.966, p = 0.0186), and psychological domain of quality of life (aOR = 0.950, p = 0.0005) were significantly associated with depression symptoms. Conclusion The prevalence of depression symptoms is high among healthcare workers in the Herat province of Afghanistan. One of the variables found to have a major impact on the prevalence of depression was their monthly income. Considering its impact on quality of life and the overall quality of healthcare services, the government should implement regular screening for depression, psychological counselling services, and psychiatric treatment for vulnerable healthcare workers.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-023-01059-9DepressionQuality of lifeHealthcare workersAfghanistan |
| spellingShingle | Abdul Qadim Mohammadi Ahmad Neyazi Vanya Rangelova Bijaya Kumar Padhi Goodness Ogeyi Odey Molly Unoh Ogbodum Mark D. Griffiths Depression and quality of life among Afghan healthcare workers: A cross-sectional survey study BMC Psychology Depression Quality of life Healthcare workers Afghanistan |
| title | Depression and quality of life among Afghan healthcare workers: A cross-sectional survey study |
| title_full | Depression and quality of life among Afghan healthcare workers: A cross-sectional survey study |
| title_fullStr | Depression and quality of life among Afghan healthcare workers: A cross-sectional survey study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Depression and quality of life among Afghan healthcare workers: A cross-sectional survey study |
| title_short | Depression and quality of life among Afghan healthcare workers: A cross-sectional survey study |
| title_sort | depression and quality of life among afghan healthcare workers a cross sectional survey study |
| topic | Depression Quality of life Healthcare workers Afghanistan |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-023-01059-9 |
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