The risk factors for anxiety amongst health care workers in Primary Health care center during COVID 19 pandemic
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19) pandemic
killed millions of people and affected the whole world, including
Serbia. Healthcare workers could not isolate themselves
from patients. They worked under adverse and challenging
conditions, which could have caused mental health
problems. This study aimed to identify the risk factors for
anxiety in healthcare workers working in Covid wards (CW)
of Primary Healthcare center (PHC).
Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted
among healthcare workers of the CWs. During the study
period, we had a total of 150 completed questionnaires. Descriptive
statistics, Pearson chi-square test, and Pearson correlation
were used to analyze the data. We used SPSS for data
analysis.
Results: Our sample included 150 healthcare workers
(HCWs), of whom 86.0% were females, the majority were
41-50 years of age (40,0%), and have been working for 21-
30 years (32,7%). In our sample, 94,6% HCWs stated they
received personal protective equipment (PPE). The results
revealed a significant association only between gender and
anxiety. Anxiety was higher among females than males. Correlation
analysis indicated the feeling of anxiety was positively
correlated with the workload, exhaustion, and family
strain. The feeling of anxiety was not correlated with the feeling
of protection. The feeling of protection was in negative
correlation with family strain.
Conclusion: Anxiety was present in HCWs during the
pandemic. Gender is the risk factor for anxiety in HCWs who
work in CWs in PHCs.
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