Abstract
Background: Low-income earners are particularly vulnerable to mental health, consequence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown restrictions, due to a temporary or permanent loss of income and livelihood, coupled with government-enforced measures of social distancing. This study evaluates the mental health status among low-income earners in southwestern Uganda during the first total COVID-19 lockdown in Uganda.Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was undertaken amongst earners whose income falls below the poverty threshold. Two hundred and fifty-three (n = 253) male and female low-income earners between the ages of 18 and 60 years of age were recruited to the study. Modified generalized anxiety disorder (GAD-7), Spielberger's State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2 (STAXI-2), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) tools as appropriate were used to assess anxiety, anger, and depression respectively among our respondents.Results: Severe anxiety (68.8%) followed by moderate depression (60.5%) and moderate anger (56.9%) were the most common mental health challenges experienced by low-income earners in Bushenyi district. Awareness of mental healthcare increased with the age of respondents in both males and females. A linear relationship was observed with age and depression (r = 0.154, P = 0.014) while positive correlations were observed between anxiety and anger (r = 0.254, P < 0.001); anxiety and depression (r = 0.153, P = 0.015) and anger and depression (r = 0.153, P = 0.015).Conclusion: The study shows the importance of mental health awareness in low resource settings during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Females were identified as persons at risk to mental depression, while anger was highest amongst young males.
Highlights
COVID-19 emerged in Africa on February 14th, 2020 with the first case reported in Egypt
The study showed that older adults had higher awareness of mental health, lower anxiety, anger, and depression than middle-aged and younger adults (Figure 3); the difference in the scores was only significant for depression (P = 0.03)
Survivors of natural disasters as exemplified by the current COVID-19 pandemic often suffer from traumatic experiences, anxiety disorders (GAD), depression, panic disorders and substance abuse [20,21,22]
Summary
COVID-19 emerged in Africa on February 14th, 2020 with the first case reported in Egypt. To date 54 countries on the African sub-continent have reported cases of COVID-19 [1]. Efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19, effectively closed off most sources of income for the majority of low-income earners, who were forced to stay at home. Low-income earners are vulnerable to mental health, consequence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown restrictions, due to a temporary or permanent loss of income and livelihood, coupled with government-enforced measures of social distancing. This study evaluates the mental health status among low-income earners in southwestern Uganda during the first total COVID-19 lockdown in Uganda
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