Obstetrics Healthcare Providers’ Mental Health and Quality of Life During Covid-19 Pandemic: Multicenter Study From Eight Cities in Iran Publisher



Vafaei H¹ ; Roozmeh S¹ ; Hessami K^{1, 2} ; Kasraeian M¹ ; Asadi N¹ ; Faraji A¹ ; Bazrafshan K¹ ; Saadati N³ ; Aski SK⁴ ; Zarean E⁵ ; Golshahi M⁶ ; Haghiri M⁷ ; Abdi N⁸ ; Tabrizi R⁹ Show All Authors Show Affiliations
Source: Psychology Research and Behavior Management Published:2020

Abstract

Background: The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has become the most challenging issue for healthcare organizations and governments all over the world. The lack of evidence-based data on the management of COVID-19 infection during pregnancy causes an additional stress for obstetrics healthcare providers (HCPs). Therefore, this study was undertaken to evaluate depression, perceived social support, and quality of life among obstetrics HCPs. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional multicenter study was conducted in eight cities in Iran. During the study period, 599 HCPs were separated into direct, no direct, and unknown contact groups according to their exposure to COVID-19-infected pregnant patients. The Patient Health Questionaire-9 (PHQ-9), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and Short Form-36 (SF-36) were used to assess depression, perceived social support, and quality of life. Results: Obstetrics and gynecology specialists had significantly higher social functioning and general health scores compared to other HCPs (residents/students or nurses/midwives). Depression was negatively correlated with most of the domains of quality of life, regardless of the COVID-19 contact status of the study participants. Social support, however, was positively correlated with some domains of quality of life, such as physical functioning, energy/fatigue, and emotional well-being, among staff members who had either direct contact or no contact with COVID-19 patients. Conclusion: During the COVID-19 outbreak, the depression score among obstetrics HCPs was negatively associated with quality of life. Social support, however, had a reinforcing effect on quality of life. © 2020, Dove Medical Press Ltd. All rights reserved.