Fear and depression during the COVID-19 outbreak in Cameroon: a nation-wide observational study.

Autor: Siewe Fodjo JN; Global Health Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.; Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon., Ngarka L; Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon., Njamnshi WY; Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon.; Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Geneva, Switzerland., Nfor LN; Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon., Mengnjo MK; Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon., Mendo EL; Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon., Angwafor SA; Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon., Atchou Basseguin JG; Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon., Nkouonlack C; Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon., Njit EN; Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon., Ahidjo N; Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon., Chokote ES; Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon., Dema F; Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon., Fonsah JY; Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon., Tatah GY; Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon., Palmer N; Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon., Seke Etet PF; Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon., Palmer D; Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon., Nsagha DS; Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon., Etya'ale DE; Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Geneva, Switzerland., Perrig S; Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Geneva, Switzerland., Sztajzel R; Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Geneva, Switzerland., Annoni JM; Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Geneva, Switzerland., Zoung-Kanyi Bissek AC; Division of Health Operations Research, Ministry of Public Health, Yaoundé, Cameroon., Leke RGF; Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon., Abena Ondoa Obama MT; Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon., Nkengasong JN; CDC Africa, African Union, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia., Colebunders R; Global Health Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium., Njamnshi AK; Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Yaoundé, Cameroon. alfred.njamnshi@brainafrica.org.; Brain Research Africa Initiative (BRAIN), Geneva, Switzerland. alfred.njamnshi@brainafrica.org.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: BMC psychiatry [BMC Psychiatry] 2021 Jul 15; Vol. 21 (1), pp. 356. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Jul 15.
DOI: 10.1186/s12888-021-03323-x
Abstrakt: Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with significant psychological and social distress worldwide. We investigated fear and depression among adults in Cameroon during different phases of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Methods: An online survey was conducted in Cameroon from June-December 2020 using a structured questionnaire. Socio-demographic data and information regarding COVID-19 history were obtained. Fear and depressive symptoms were assessed using the Fear of COVID-19 score (FCV-19S) and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), respectively. Responses were clustered in weeks to better appreciate their evolution over time.
Results: Overall, 7381 responses from all ten regions of Cameroon were analysed (median age: 30 years, 73.3% male). The prevalence of depression (PHQ-9 score ≥ 10) was 8.4%, and that of high fear of COVID-19 (FCV-19S scores ≥19) was 57.4%. These rates were similar across genders, age-groups, and region of residence. While mean weekly PHQ-9 scores remained fairly stable throughout the study period (range: 2.53-3.21; p = 0.101), mean FCV-19S scores were highest during the early weeks but decreased significantly thereafter (from 20.31 to 18.34; p <  0.001). Multivariate analyses revealed that having a postgraduate degree, a history of quarantine, flu-like symptoms during the past 14 days, and higher FCV-19S scores were associated with more severe depressive symptoms, while obtaining COVID-19 information from various sources reduced the odds for depression.
Conclusion: Depression amidst the COVID-19 crisis is less prevalent in Cameroon than in other countries. Prompt and widespread dissemination of adequate COVID-19 information may reduce the risks for depression by dispelling fear and anxiety among Cameroonians.
(© 2021. The Author(s).)
Databáze: MEDLINE
Externí odkaz: