Psychological distress among South African healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has placed immense pressure on healthcare workers (HCWs). OBJECTIVES: This study sought to find the prevalence and factors associated with psychological distress among HCWs in South Africa during the beginning phases of COVID-19 and make relevant recommendations. METHOD: The survey was administered online through a data-free platform. Data were benchmarked to the national population of over 500 000 healthcare professionals in South Africa. Multiple logistic regressions were used to determine association between psychological distress and potential explanatory variables. RESULTS: A total of 7607 healthcare professionals participated in the study (1760 nurses, 2843 medical practitioners and 3004 other healthcare professionals). Half of the nurses, 41% of medical practitioners and 47% of other healthcare professionals were classified as psychologically distressed. Those who were of older age, provided with well-being support services and having a positive outlook on the healthcare system were significantly less likely to be distressed. Being female medical practitioners and female other healthcare professions, requesting routine counselling, being concerned about not having enough leave and that their life insurance policy did not cover COVID-19 were more likely to be distressed. CONCLUSION: Psychological well-being of HCWs in South Africa is at risk. We recommend that psychological distress of HCWs be routinely assessed and that routine counselling, well-being support services, appropriate hazardous leave and insurance be provided to all HCWs.Contribution: This study adds to the literature on the psychological distress faced by HCWs in South Africa during COVID-19.

Psychological distress among South African healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has placed immense pressure on healthcare workers (HCWs). Objectives: This study sought to find the prevalence and factors associated with psychological distress among HCWs in South Africa during the beginning phases of COVID-19 and make relevant recommendations. Method: The survey was administered online through a data-free platform. Data were benchmarked to the national population of over 500 000 healthcare professionals in South Africa. Multiple logistic regressions were used to determine association between psychological distress and potential explanatory variables. Results: A total of 7607 healthcare professionals participated in the study (1760 nurses, 2843 medical practitioners and 3004 other healthcare professionals). Half of the nurses, 41% of medical practitioners and 47% of other healthcare professionals were classified as psychologically distressed. Those who were of older age, provided with well-being support services and having a positive outlook on the healthcare system were significantly less likely to be distressed. Being female medical practitioners and female other healthcare professions, requesting routine counselling, being concerned about not having enough leave and that their life insurance policy did not cover COVID-19 were more likely to be distressed. Conclusion: Psychological well-being of HCWs in South Africa is at risk. We recommend that psychological distress of HCWs be routinely assessed and that routine counselling, well-being support services, appropriate hazardous leave and insurance be provided to all HCWs. Contribution: This study adds to the literature on the psychological distress faced by HCWs in South Africa during COVID-19.

Rapid increases in overweight and obesity among South African adolescents: comparison of data from the South African National Youth Risk Behaviour Survey in 2002 and 2008.

OBJECTIVES: To aid future policy and intervention initiatives, we studied the prevalence and correlates of overweight and obesity among participants in the South African National Youth Risk Behaviour Survey in 2002 and 2008. METHODS: The survey collected data from nationally representative cross-sectional samples of students in grades 8 through 11 (n = 9491 in 2002 and 9442 in 2008) by questionnaire and measurement of height and weight. We stratified data on overweight and obesity rates by age, socioeconomic status, and race/ethnicity. RESULTS: Among male adolescents, overweight rates increased from 6.3% in 2002 to 11.0% in 2008 (P < .01); among female adolescents, overweight rates increased from 24.3% in 2002 to 29.0% in 2008 (P < .01). Obesity rates more than doubled among male adolescents from 1.6% in 2002 to 3.3% in 2008 (P < .01) and rose from 5.0% to 7.5% among female adolescents (P < .01). We observed a dose-response relationship in overweight and obesity rates across socioeconomic categories. Rates of overweight and obesity were significantly higher among urban youths than among rural youths (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: South Africa is experiencing a chronic disease risk transition. Further research is needed to better understand and effectively address this rapid change.

A qualitative study on the determinants of smoking behaviour among adolescents in South Africa.

BACKGROUND: Increasing adolescent smoking rates have highlighted the need for smoking cessation programmes for adolescents. AIM: The aim of this study was to explore adolescent opinions' on the determinants of smoking, with a focus on smoking cessation. METHODS: Nine focus group discussions were conducted with grade 8 and 9 school-going smokers and ex-smokers in the Southern Cape Karoo Region, South Africa. Six schools were purposively selected based on their locality (urban or rural) and ethnicity ("black", "white", and "coloured"). The groups were homogenous in terms of gender and ethnicity. Data was analysed thematically. RESULTS: The majority of the participants declared their intention to stop smoking in the future. They reported multiple quit attempts of short duration. They perceived quitting as a difficult process and that only a few of their friends wanted to stop smoking. Participants believed that they were not addicted to nicotine even though they reported nicotine withdrawal symptoms. While "coloured" and "black" participants reported their smoking peers as obstacles to quitting, their "white" counterparts emphasized that they smoked by choice and that they would support friends who wanted to stop smoking. CONCLUSION: This study shows that the psychosocial determinants of tobacco use may vary substantially between ethnic groups and cultural contexts. A long-term strategy of poverty reduction that would create greater perceived future prospects is an important consideration for interventions in developing countries. The manifestation of withdrawal symptoms, indicative of nicotine addiction, is a common and significant hindrance for smoking cessation among these adolescents.