Mental and social burden of COVID-19 on the Iraqi people

Riyadh K Lafta and Nagham A Mawlood

International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 2023, vol. 69, issue 1, 200-207

Abstract: Background: COVID-19 pandemic has affected all crucial aspects of daily life, including; food security, education, gender relation, mental health, and environmental air pollution, in addition to the impact of the lockdown that had far-reaching effects in different strata of life. Aims: To study the impact of COVID-19 on people with respect to their mental and social suffering and consequences. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted during the period from November 2020 through August 2021. A sample of 1,000 attendants to four teaching hospitals and eight PHCCs, was collected. The mental and social sequels of COVID-19 were assessed for all participants whether previously infected or not. Results: Out of the total sample (1,000), 389 had a history of infection with COVID-19. The main mental symptoms reported were depression (67.8%), and anxiety (46.9%), males and females equally reported symptoms of anxiety, while depressive symptoms were reported more among females (59.9%), Fear and worries of the participants about their health and their families’ was the main reason for mental symptoms (94.7%). Conclusions: Symptoms of depression and anxiety in time of COVID-19 are prevalent. Suspending educational activities was the most social burden that affect people while increase the price of food and cessation of work were the main causes of economic burden.

Keywords: COVID-19; mental; social; burden; Iraq (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:69:y:2023:i:1:p:200-207

DOI: 10.1177/00207640221077618

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