The Psychosocial Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Frontline Healthcare Workers in Sierra Leone: an explorative qualitative study

Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has wide-reaching health and non-health consequences, especially on mental health and psychosocial wellbeing. Healthcare workers involved in COVID-19 patient care are particularly vulnerable to psychosocial distress due to increased pressure on healthcare systems. We explored the psychosocial experiences of frontline healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Sierra Leone. Methods This qualitative study used purposive sampling to recruit 13 healthcare workers from different cadres across five designated COVID-19 treatment centres in Freetown, Sierra Leone. In-depth interviews were conducted remotely in July and August 2020, transcribed verbatim and analysed using the framework approach. Results This study identified three overarching themes: vulnerability, resilience, and support structures. Participants expressed vulnerability relating to the challenging work environment and lack of medications as key stressors resulting in anxiety, stress, anger, isolation, and stigmatisation. Signs of resilience with experiences drawn from the 2014 Ebola outbreak, teamwork and a sense of duty were also seen. Peer support was the main support structure with no professional psychosocial support services available to healthcare workers.   Conclusions This is the first study to provide evidence of the psychosocial impacts of COVID-19 among frontline healthcare workers in Sierra Leone. Despite signs of resilience and coping mechanisms displayed, they also experienced adverse psychosocial outcomes. There is a need to focus on enhancing strategies such as psychosocial support for healthcare workers and those that overall strengthen the health system to protect healthcare workers, promote resilience, and guide recommendations for interventions during future outbreaks

Prevalence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and their risk factors in an informal settlement in Freetown, Sierra Leone: a cross-sectional study

Background: Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), especially hypertension and diabetes mellitus are on the increase in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Informal settlement dwellers exhibit a high prevalence of behavioural risk factors and are highly vulnerable to hypertension and diabetes. However, no study has assessed the prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, and NCDrisk factors among informal settlement dwellers in Sierra Leone. We conducted a study in June 2019 to determine the prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, and NCD risk factors among adults living in the largest Sierra Leonean informal settlement (KrooBay). Methods and materials: We conducted a community-based cross-sectional survey among adults aged ≥ 35 years in the KrooBay community. Trained healthcare workers collected data on socio-demographic characteristics and self-reported health behaviours using the World Health Organization STEPwise surveillance questionnaire for chronic disease risk factors. Anthropometric, blood glucose, and blood pressure measurements were performed following standard procedures. Logistics regression was used for analysis and adjusted odd ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated to identify risk factors associated with hypertension. Results: Of the 418 participants, 242 (57%) were females and those below the age of 45 years accounted for over half (55.3%) of the participants. The prevalence of smoking was 18.2%, alcohol consumption was 18.8%, overweight was 28.2%, obesity was 17.9%, physical inactivity was 81.5%, and inadequate consumption of fruits and vegetables was 99%. The overall prevalence of hypertension was 45.7% (95% CI 41.0-50.5%), systolic hypertension was 34.2% (95% CI 29.6–38.8%), diastolic blood pressure was 39.9% (95% CI 35.2–44.6), and participants with diabetes were 2.2% (95% CI 0.7–3.6%). Being aged ≥ 55 years (AOR = 7.35, 95% CI 1.49–36.39) and > 60 years (AOR 8.05; 95% CI 2.22–29.12), separated (AOR = 1.34; 95% 1.02–7.00), cohabitating (AOR = 6.68; 95% CL1.03-14.35), vocational (AOR = 3.65; 95% CI 1.81–7.39 ) and having a university education (AOR = 4.62; 95% CI 3.09–6.91) were found to be independently associated with hypertension. Conclusion: The prevalence of hypertension,and NCD risk factors was high among the residents of the Kroobay informal settlement. We also noted a low prevalence of diabetes. There is an urgent need for the implementation of health education, promotion, and screening initiatives to reduce health risks so that these conditions will not overwhelm health services

Psychosocial impact of COVID-19 pandemic on front-line healthcare workers in Sierra Leone: an explorative qualitative study

Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has wide-reaching health and non-health consequences, especially on mental health and psychosocial well-being. Healthcare workers involved in COVID-19 patient care are particularly vulnerable to psychosocial distress due to increased pressure on healthcare systems. We explored the psychosocial experiences of front-line healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Sierra Leone.Methods This qualitative study used purposive sampling to recruit 13 healthcare workers from different cadres across 5 designated COVID-19 treatment centres in Freetown, Sierra Leone. In-depth interviews were conducted remotely in July and August 2020, transcribed verbatim and analysed using the framework approach.Results This study identified three overarching themes: vulnerability, resilience and support structures. Participants expressed vulnerability relating to the challenging work environment and lack of medications as key stressors resulting in anxiety, stress, anger, isolation and stigmatisation. Signs of resilience with experiences drawn from the 2014 Ebola outbreak, teamwork and a sense of duty were also seen. Peer support was the main support structure with no professional psychosocial support services available to healthcare workers.Conclusions This is the first study to provide evidence of the psychosocial impacts of COVID-19 among front-line healthcare workers in Sierra Leone. Despite signs of resilience and coping mechanisms displayed, they also experienced adverse psychosocial outcomes. There is a need to focus on enhancing strategies such as psychosocial support for healthcare workers and those that overall strengthen the health system to protect healthcare workers, promote resilience and guide recommendations for interventions during future outbreaks