At least 23.5% of health workers involved in treating Covid-19 patients across Bangladesh have suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, according to a study.
Doctors were the worst affected, followed by medical technologists and nurses, it says.
National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine (Nipsom) Director Dr Baizid Khoorshid Riaz unveiled the findings at an event in Dhaka on Thursday.
PTSD is a mental health condition that is triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it.
The study, titled “Psychological impact on health workers, well-being, adaptation strategies for health workers during Covid-19 epidemic in Bangladesh”, was funded by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
According to the study, among health workers affected by mental health issues, 24.30% were doctors, 23.50% technologists and 22.80% nurses.
Altogether 1,394 health workers participated in the study, from January-June 2021. The respondents included 596 doctors, 713 nurses and 85 medical technologists.
“Each of them worked with Covid-19 patients at least for a month,” said Dr Baizid, who led the research.
Around 62.9% of the women respondents suffered PTSD, and of them 83.6% were married.
Most of the respondents were under mental stress, and suffered exhaustion and lack of sleep.
Moreover, the safety of loved ones had put them under more stress, the study revealed.
“We had the same fear as the patients because the disease was contagious. A lot of things were unknown to us,” said a respondent.
The respondents said the hospitals had not been not prepared, and that the negative attitude of society and the fear of catching the disease had increased their fears manifold.
According to them, activities like regular prayers, watching TV and reading books can help with PTSD.
“Health workers suffering from PTSD may drift away from others, quit their jobs or become suicidal,” said Dr Baizid.
Many had even resorted to smoking or taking sleeping pills to deal with the trauma, he said.
He added that health workers had been advised to seek professional counselling.
As the study was conducted last year, he said, there was no way of knowing how the affected healthcare professionals were doing now.