The Psychological Impact of COVID-19 on Frontline Healthcare Workers in the Northern Regions of Ghana

Aims: This study psychological impact of COVID-19 on Frontline Healthcare Workers (FHW) in the Northern Regions of Ghana in their pursuit of the frontline duties during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study also evaluated the determinants of psychological factors influencing the burden levels among FHW.

Study Design: Frontline healthcare workers (FHW) were recruited in this study through the online survey method of data collection.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in five Regions of Ghana, namely Northern, Savannah, North East, Upper East and Upper West region. Data collection spanned a period of four weeks.

Methodology: A total of 120 frontline health personnel working out in five Regions of Ghana (Northern, Savannah, North East, Upper East and Upper West region) participated in the study. The study was conducted with the diagnostic survey method, using Zarit burden interview scale and a questionnaire of our authorship.

Results: The results revealed that 85% of FHW experienced more than average amount of burden whiles 60% of them suffered severe burden of care levels in pursuit of their duties for COVID-19 patients. The results from chi-square test of association between caregivers’ socio-demographic characteristics and severity of burden revealed that gender, marital status, educational qualification and caring for own children were significantly associated with caregiver burden level (P – value < 0.05). Factor analysis results identified seven psychological factors that underlies caregivers of COVID-19 and they were labeled as consequences of care giving on the caregiver; exhaustion and uncertainty; patient’s dependence; moral-guilt; helplessness; compensation and overwhelmed with care giving, which are consistent with prior studies. A multiple regression model results further affirmed that these seven psychological factors were significantly (P – value < 0.05) influencing the burden levels of FHW.

Conclusion: The ability of policy makers to address these experiences of FHW will have positive consequences on the overall containment of the pandemic.