Depression, anxiety, and coping mechanisms among Sudanese healthcare workers amid the 2023 Sudan conflict: a cross-sectional study

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BACKGROUND: Amid the ongoing Sudanese war, healthcare workers have faced violence and intense work in highly stressful environments, impacting their mental health. The insufficient mental health support system has exacerbated these challenges, affecting both their well-being and the care provided to patients. This study aims to assess the symptoms and prevalence of depression and anxiety among Sudanese healthcare workers and evaluate the coping mechanisms they employ during the current conflict. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among Sudanese healthcare workers using convenience sampling. Depression symptoms were assessed using the standardized Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), while anxiety symptoms were measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale, in addition to collecting socio-demographic data. Coping mechanisms were assessed using a structured set of multiple-choice questions. The sample size was estimated using the Cochrane formula. Chi-square tests were applied to examine the associations between depression, anxiety, and socio-demographic factors, while multivariable regression analyses were conducted to identify predictors of psychological outcomes. A significance level of p < 0.05 was considered for all statistical tests. RESULTS: The mean depression score was 8.8 (SD = 6.0), with 36.9% of participants reporting depression and 6.6% experiencing severe depression. The mean anxiety score was 10.3 (SD = 5.9), with 56.5% of participants exhibiting anxiety symptoms and 28.1% experiencing severe anxiety. Male participants reported lower PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores than females (Est. = − 1.3637, p = 0.011; Est. = − 1.59028, p = 0.003). Compared to physicians, pharmacists (Est. = 1.8141, p = 0.039), nurses (Est. = 3.3503, p = 0.002), medical laboratory staff (Est. = 3.5181, p = 0.006), and administrative staff (Est. = 3.5278, p = 0.029) had higher depressive scores. The most commonly used coping mechanism was talking to friends and family, practiced by 28.8% of participants, followed by engaging in spiritual or religious practices (15.5%). CONCLUSION: This study found that a large number of Sudanese healthcare workers experienced anxiety symptoms, with a notable proportion also suffering from depression. The most common coping mechanism reported was support from family and friends. Further research is needed to better understand the underlying factors contributing to this psychological distress and to develop effective strategies, including targeted interventions such as remote psychological first aid, peer-support programs, and confidential tele-counselling for high-risk groups like females, administrative staff, nurses, and medical laboratory staff.

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