PREVALENCE AND PREDICTORS OF STRESS AMONG COVID 19 HEALTH WORKERS IN KABWE DISTRICT: A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY
This study aimed at determining the magnitude of stress among COVID 19 health workers in Kabwe district. METHODS The study was a cross-sectional study which recruited 138 health care workers managing COVID 19 cases in Kabwe. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and in-depth interviews. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS version 16 while qualitative data was analyzed using Nvivo8. RESULTS The study obtained 100% responses from the respondents and the prevalence of stress among the respondents was 73%. The nurses were more perceived to experience stress compared to the pharmacy personnel (28% vs. 3%). Similarly, women displayed a higher likelihood of experiencing stress compared to men. Lack of support, increased workload and fear were among the factors leading to stress. CONCLUSION The study went out to determine stress among healthcare workers in Kabwe district. It was established that nurses were more vulnerable than groups. And women were found to be more stressed than men. It is therefore recommended that effective and meaningful interventions be put in place to mitigate the impact of long-term psychological distress and physical well-being in healthcare workers during the COVID 19 pandemic and future outbreaks.