Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health status among the frontline healthcare workers in Kathmandu, Nepal

Abstract

Introduction: The coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has led to psychological distress among healthcare workers. We aimed to assess the prevalence of anxiety and insomnia severity among various occupational categories of frontline HCWs in COVID-19 treatment settings in Kathmandu, Nepal. Materials and Method: A cross-sectional web-based study was conducted over some time of 3 months from March to June 2021 among the frontline healthcare workers in Kathmandu, Nepal. An electronic survey link was sent via email and other social messaging sites and was requested to fill a questionnaire regarding sociodemographic information along with the Generalized Severity Disorder (GAD-7) and Insomnia Severity Index. Results: Out of 200 participants, most the respondents 87 (43.5%) had no anxiety disorder. 67 (33.5%) participants had mild levels of anxiety, 25 (12.5%) had moderate anxiety and 21 (10.5%) had severe anxiety. More than half participants (109, 54.5%) had no clinically significant insomnia. Subthreshold insomnia was seen in 63 (31.5%), clinical insomnia (Moderate) was seen in 23 (11.5%) and 5 (2.5%) of study participants had clinical insomnia (Severe). Conclusion: Due to the Covid-19 pandemic mental well-being of frontline HCWs is affected.