Predictors of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) among health care providers during the COVID–19 pandemic at a regional teaching and referral hospital in Western Kenya

Abstract

Corona Virus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) is an unprecedented challenge to health care systems globally and locally. The study aimed to assess generalized anxiety disorder and associated factors among health care providers (HCP) during COVID–19 pandemic. A total of 202 health care providers participated in the study. This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study. The survey questionnaire consisted of six components: demographic factors, occupational factors, psychological factors, socioeconomic factors, and the multi-dimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS). The symptoms of anxiety were measured by a standardized questionnaire, a 7–item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD—7). Chi-Square statistic was used as a selection criterion for the predictors of generalized anxiety disorder to be included in the final binary regression analysis model at α<0.05. Among 202 health care providers interviewed, the overall prevalence of anxiety symptoms was 59.9%. Some of the aspects that reduced the risk of GAD were; being a younger HCP (OR 0.11, P = 0.004), fewer years of experience (OR 0.09, P = 0.008), availability of workplace precautionary measures (OR 0.06, P = 0.004), lower income level (OR = 0.04, P = 0.014), living alone (OR = 0.02, P = 0.008) and permanent employment terms (OR = 0.0001, P< 0.0001). On the other hand, insufficient state of personal protective equipment (PPEs) (OR = 10.64, P = 0.033), having a family member as a COVID-19 contact (OR = 11.24, P = 0.023) and facing COVID-19 related stigma (OR = 8.06, P = 0.001) significantly increased the odds of GAD. The study result is a call to prioritize the health care providers’ psychological well-being by putting in place measures to preserve and enhance their resilience in order to ensure they work optimally and sustain service delivery during a pandemic.