Mental Health Burden and Facilitators Among Frontline Healthcare Professionals in Nigeria Amid COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the frontline healthcare providers faced significant mental health stressors. Previous pandemics have revealed the need for psychosocial support and healthy coping mechanisms to mitigate mental health risks. Aim: The study aimed to assess psychological impact and supportive mechanisms experienced by frontline healthcare workers treating COVID-19 patients in Kaduna State. Methods: This study involved 38 frontline healthcare providers mainly from Kaduna State Infectious Disease Treatment Center. Participants’ mental health burden was captured through Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Mental health facilitators were assessed through six tools: Ten-Item Values Inventory, healthy defense section of the Defense Style Questionnaire, Existential Anxiety Questionnaire, Brief Resilience Scale, Oslo Social Support Scale, and the Insomnia Severity Index. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 35.5 ± 6.6 years, with the majority being males (68.4%) and doctors (39.5%). More than a quarter of the participants showed appreciable symptoms of depression and anxiety. Psychosocial facilitators such as moral values, openness to change, self-transcendence, sublimation, anticipation, and humor scored above average for more than half of the participants. Most participants demonstrated moderate resilience and social support, with few experiencing sleep challenges. Comparisons of variables indicated “openness to change” was significantly higher among males, whereas symptoms of depression and anxiety were associated with higher levels of existential concerns and sleep challenges. Conclusion: Our study finds that Nigerian frontline health workers experienced significant mental health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. It identified specific facilitators linked to gender and psychological burdens, informing the need for tailored support interventions.