Prevalence of mental health problems and its associated factors among healthcare workers

Abstract

The medical profession is a very tedious and demanding occupation. Mental health conditions have been found to be higher among health care professionals than those in other fields which even became more marked after the most recent pandemic. This paper aims to evaluate the prevalence of these mental health problems among health care workers, their propagating factors, and the importance of knowledge of these factors. A literature review of texts related to this topic over the last ten years was done. The reviews included cross-sectional studies and systematic reviews done in Nigeria and worldwide. We found that a significant proportion of healthcare workers suffer from mental disorders, relative to the general population. The commonest problems seen among HCWs were Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (21.7%), Anxiety disorder (16.1%), Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) (13.4%), and Acute stress disorder (7.4%). We conclude that mental health problems are not only rampant in the general population, but they tend to be commoner among HCWs. However, compared to the general population, HCWs are less likely to reach out for help, exacerbating the burden of the disease.