Psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic among healthcare workers in Paraguay: A descriptive and preliminary study

dc.creatorVillalba-Arias,Jorge
dc.creatorEstigarribia,Gladys
dc.creatorBogado,José Andrés
dc.creatorMéndez,Julieta
dc.creatorToledo,Santiago
dc.creatorGonzález,Israel
dc.creatorCastaldelli-Maia,João Mauricio
dc.creatorVentriglio,Antonio
dc.creatorTorales,Julio
dc.date2020-12-01
dc.date.accessioned2023-09-25T15:52:44Z
dc.date.available2023-09-25T15:52:44Z
dc.identifierhttp://scielo.iics.una.py/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2521-22812020000300093
dc.identifier.urihttps://repositorioslatinoamericanos.uchile.cl/handle/2250/8832007
dc.descriptionABSTRACT Introduction: Healthcare workers exposed to SARS-CoV-2 are vulnerable to psychological distress. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in 5 tertiary hospitals in the Central, San Pedro and Caaguazú Departments of Paraguay during the COVID-19 pandemic from April to June 2020. The pilot study included 125 healthcare workers as participants, 25 for each hospital. Demographic data and occupational exposure data were collected with an ad-hoc questionnaire. Symptoms of depression and anxiety were evaluated employing the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale-7. The prevalence of post-traumatic stress was determined using the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Check List-C. Results: Of the 125 participants, 68 (54.8%) were doctors, 37 (29.8) nurses, 7 (5.6%) biochemists, 3 (2.4%) obstetricians, and 9 (7.3%) other healthcare workers. Most participants were females (86 (68.8%)), with an average age of 33.8 years (SD ± 7.4), single (71 (56.8%)), with a postgraduate educational level (83 (66.4%)), and reporting a junior level of work experience (52 (41.6%)). A total of 71 (57.3%) were classified as high-risk healthcare workers after exposure to SARS-CoV-2. 61 (48.8%) of participants presented symptoms of depression, and 68 (54.4%) presented symptoms of anxiety. A small group reported symptoms of post-traumatic stress (9 (7.2%)). Conclusion: Healthcare workers in Paraguay reported a significant prevalence of depressive and anxious symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings lend support to the idea that healthcare workers are vulnerable to psychological distress and that they may require specific mental health interventions.
dc.formattext/html
dc.languageen
dc.publisherFacultad de Ciencias Médicas, Filial de Santa Rosa del Aguaray, Cátedra de Socioantropología
dc.relation10.52379/mcs.v4i3.156
dc.rightsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.sourceMedicina clínica y social v.4 n.3 2020
dc.subjectHealthcare workers
dc.subjectmental health
dc.subjectCOVID-19
dc.subjectanxiety
dc.subjectdepression
dc.subjectpost-traumatic stress
dc.titlePsychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic among healthcare workers in Paraguay: A descriptive and preliminary study
dc.typeinfo:eu-repo/semantics/article


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