The prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder and its associated factors among frontline health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic working at case management center in Ethiopia, 2020.

Objectives: COVID-19, because of its rapid transmission and the uncertainty about how it is transmitted, evoked fear and anxiety among frontline health professionals. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its association with impairments in functioning and comorbid mental health symptoms in Ethiopia in 2020.

Method: An English-language, online, cross-sectional survey study was administered to 207 different health professionals working at a COVID-19 center using a random sampling technique. The 17-item Symptom Scale for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder-Self-Reporting Version was used to determine the presence of PTSD. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine psychosocial factors associated with PTSD.

Results: The overall prevalence of PTSD in this study was 55 (26.5%). Those at the highest risk included women, those working at a high-risk site, current substance users, and professionals with poor quality of sleep.

Conclusion: The prevalence of PTSD among frontline health care providers was higher than in the general population. Some environmental and psychological variables were associated with increased risk. We recommend that health care providers who provide frontline care be regularly screened for PTSD and provided with mental health services. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).