Impact of COVID-19 on Healthcare Workers in Brazil between August and November 2020: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Edlaine Faria de Moura Villela, Izadora Rodrigues da Cunha, Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo, Michael Obimpeh, Robert Colebunders and Stijn Van Hees
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Edlaine Faria de Moura Villela: Disease Control Coordination, São Paulo State Health Department, São Paulo 01246-000, Brazil
Izadora Rodrigues da Cunha: School of Medicine, Health Sciences Unit, Federal University of Jataí, Jataí 75801-615, Brazil
Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo: Global Health Institute, University of Antwerp, 2650 Antwerp, Belgium
Michael Obimpeh: Global Health Institute, University of Antwerp, 2650 Antwerp, Belgium
Robert Colebunders: Global Health Institute, University of Antwerp, 2650 Antwerp, Belgium
Stijn Van Hees: Global Health Institute, University of Antwerp, 2650 Antwerp, Belgium

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 12, 1-12

Abstract: During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers (HCW) have been subjected to greater workloads. We conducted a cross-sectional online survey to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Brazilian HCW. Data were collected between 11 August and 1 November 2020. Of the 295 respondents, 95 (32.2%) were medical doctors, 82 (27.8%) administrative staff, 53 (18.0%) nurses, 27 (9.2%) laboratory staff, and 38 (12.9%) were other staff. COVID-19-related restructuring at the health facilities was reported by 207 (70.2%) respondents, and 69 (23.4%) had their tasks changed. Preventive measures were well respected when seeing suspected patients. Overall, 167 (56.6%) HCW screened positive for anxiety and 137 (46.4%) for depression; 109 (36.9%) screened positive for both conditions. Of the 217 (73.6%) HCW who had been tested for COVID-19, at least one positive result was reported in 49 (22.6%). Following a positive COVID-19 test, 45/49 (91.8%) stopped working and stayed home. In conclusion, we found a high incidence of COVID-19 infection among Brazilian HCW with high rates of anxiety and depression despite a good self-reported adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures. As such, our study highlights the urgent need for interventions to mitigate the psychosocial risks HCW in Brazil encounter during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords: COVID-19; Brazil; health care workers; anxiety; depression (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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