Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused high infection rates, fatalities, financial
hardships, stress, and uncertainty (De Kock et al., 2021). In South Africa, amidst the
Quadruple burden, which includes chronic illnesses, HIV/TB, Maternal, perinatal
conditions, as well as Mental Health. Healthcare workers face stressful situations,
balancing patient care with the risk of infection and disease spreading. Extended
work hours, limited staffing, high staff turnover rate, limited support and
unreasonable demands at health facilities impacted the overall health status
of staff, particularly frontline clinical personnel.
The abovementioned scenario presented the ideal research opportunity to determine
The relationship between COVID-19 exposure and the effects on the mental health of
healthcare workers in the Khayelitsha Eastern Substructure in the Western Cape are
limited.
A cross-sectional study was chosen as the ideal method of research due to the opportunity it allowed to conduct both descriptive and analytical observation
of Health Care Workers (HCWS) in the Khayelitsha Eastern Substructure, Western
Cape Province. The GHQ-12 screening tool was used to assess mental stress. The
study included 356 responses from HCWS, focusing on socio-demographics, mental
health risk assessment, COVID-19 exposure, physical symptoms, and access to
mental health support. The STATA version 17 statistical program was used to
analyze data.
The study revealed increased mental stress among healthcare workers in the
Khayelitsha Eastern Substructure (84.5%), with over half (53.1%) concerned about
COVID-19 infection and the impact on their colleagues and families. The stress was
primarily linked to the establishment and nature of work, with females experiencing
higher rates (n = 221; 68. 6%).The results highlight the importance of mental health care initiatives and policies for healthcare workers (HCWS) to reduce psychosocial risks and improve their overall mental health and wellbeing. It also aids decision-makers in understanding the mental health needs of healthcare workers