The COVID-19 pandemic has created mental health challenges among the public. The study objectives were to determine the prevalence of anxiety, depression and associated factors among the general public in Nigeria during the COVID-19 pandemic. The cross-sectional study was conducted between May 2020 and June 2020 using an online questionnaire that captured sociodemographic data, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD-7), depression (PHQ-9), lifestyle practices, self-rated health, and exposure to COVID-19 information through social media. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Science with associations tested at 95% confidence interval. Appropriate institutional ethical board approval was obtained, and informed consent obtained from all participants. 543 adults participated, 101 (18.6%) and 131 (24.1%) respondents were classified as having depressive and anxiety disorders respectively. Females (χ2=11.06, p < 0.01), alcohol use (OR 5.50, p < 0.01, 95% CI 2.18-13.87) and poor self-rated health (OR 2.97, p=0.04, 95% CI 1.08-8.22) were significantly associated with GAD. Alcohol consumption (OR 4.27, p < 0.01, 95% CI 1.56-12.04), currently being on medication (OR 2.96, p < 0.01, 95% CI 1.31-6.70) and poor self-rated health (OR 4.21 p < 0.01, 95% CI 1.73-10.23) were significantly associated with depression. Increasing frequency of information on Covid-19 through social media was significantly associated with decreased anxiety and depression (χ2=7.95, p=0.02). A considerable proportion of respondents experienced anxiety and depression, especially persons with unhealthy lifestyles and poor health. Interventions to improve mental health should target these at-risk groups.
| Published in | Central African Journal of Public Health (Volume 7, Issue 3) |
| DOI | 10.11648/j.cajph.20210703.16 |
| Page(s) | 127-135 |
| Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Anxiety, COVID-19, Depression, Mental Health
| [1] | Guo, Y. R., Cao, Q. D., Hong, Z. S., Tan, Y. Y., Chen, S. D., Jin, H. J. et al. (2020) The origin, transmission and clinical therapies on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak- An update on the status [Internet]. Mil. Med. Res. BioMed Central Ltd. p. 11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40779-020-00240-0. |
| [2] | Pfefferbaum, B. and North, C. S. (2020) Mental Health and the Covid-19 Pandemic. New England Journal of Medicine, Massachusetts Medical Society. 383, 510–2. https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmp2008017. |
| [3] | Rossi, R., Socci, V., Talevi, D., Mensi, S., Niolu, C., Pacitti, F. et al. (2020) COVID-19 Pandemic and Lockdown Measures Impact on Mental Health Among the General Population in Italy. Frontiers in Psychiatry, Frontiers Media S. A. 11: 790. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00790. |
| [4] | Gao, J., Zheng, P., Jia, Y., Chen, H., Mao, Y., Chen, S. et al. (2020) Mental health problems and social media exposure during COVID-19 outbreak. PLoS ONE, Public Library of Science. 15. (4): e0231924 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0231924. |
| [5] | Choi, E. P. H., Hui, B. P. H. and Wan, E. Y. F. (2020) Depression and Anxiety in Hong Kong during COVID-19. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, MDPI AG. 17, 3740. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17103740. |
| [6] | Verma, S. and Mishra, A. (2020) Depression, anxiety, and stress and socio-demographic correlates among general Indian public during COVID-19. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 66, 756–62. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764020934508. |
| [7] | Hyland, P., Shevlin, M., McBride, O., Murphy, J., Karatzias, T., Bentall, R. P. et al. (2020) Anxiety and depression in the Republic of Ireland during the COVID-19 pandemic. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. 142, 249–56. https://doi.org/10.1111/acps.13219. |
| [8] | Passos, L., Prazeres, F., Teixeira, A. and Martins, C. (2020) Impact on mental health due to covid-19 pandemic: Cross-sectional study in Portugal and brazil. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186794. |
| [9] | Lawal, Y. (2021) Africa’s low COVID-19 mortality rate: A paradox? International Journal of Infectious Diseases. 102, 118–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2020.10.038. |
| [10] | Olaseni, A. O., Akinsola, O. S., Agberotimi, S. F. and Oguntayo, R. (2020) Psychological distress experiences of Nigerians during Covid-19 pandemic; the gender difference. Social Sciences & Humanities 2 (1). 100052. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2020.100052. |
| [11] | Rakhmanov, O. and Dane, S. (2020) Knowledge and Anxiety Levels of African University Students Against COVID-19 During the Pandemic Outbreak by an Online Survey. J. Res. Med. Dent. Sci. 8 (3): 53-57. |
| [12] | Semo, B. and Frissa, S. M. (2020). The Mental Health Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Implications for Sub-Saharan Africa. Psychology Research and Behavior Management. 13, 713–20. https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S264286. |
| [13] | Harapan, H., Wagner, A. L., Yufika, A., Winardi, W., Anwar, S., Gan, A. K. et al. (2020) Acceptance of a COVID-19 Vaccine in Southeast Asia: A Cross-Sectional Study in Indonesia. Frontiers in Public Health, Frontiers. 8, 381. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2020.00381. |
| [14] | De Boni, R. B., Balanzá-Martínez, V., Mota, J. C., de Azevedo Cardoso, T., Ballester, P., Atienza-Carbonell, B. et al. (2020) Depression, Anxiety, and Lifestyle among Essential Workers: A Web Survey from Brazil and Spain during the COVID-19 Pandemic. J. Med. Internet Res. J. 22 (10): e22835. https://doi.org/10.2196/22835. |
| [15] | Spittzer, R. L., Kroenke, K., Janet, B. W., Williams, D. and Bernd, L. (2006) A Brief Measure for Assessing Generalized Anxiety Disorder: The GAD-7. Archives of Internal Medicine, 166, 1092–7. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.166.10.1092. |
| [16] | Islam, M. A., Barna, S. D., Raihan, H., Khan, M. N. A. and Hossain, M. T. (2020) Depression and anxiety among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh: A web-based cross-sectional survey. PLOS ONE. 15, e0238162. https://doi.org/10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0238162. |
| [17] | Adewuya, A. O., Atilola, O., Ola, B. A., Coker, O. A., Zachariah, M. P., Olugbile, O. et al. (2018) Current prevalence, comorbidity and associated factors for symptoms of depression and generalised anxiety in the Lagos State Mental Health Survey (LSMHS), Nigeria. Comprehensive Psychiatry. 81, 60–5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2017.11.010. |
| [18] | van der Velden, P. G., Contino, C., Das, M., van Loon, P. and Bosmans, M. W. G. (2020) Anxiety and depression symptoms, and lack of emotional support among the general population before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. A prospective national study on prevalence and risk factors. Journal of Affective Disorders.. 277, 540–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.08.026. |
| [19] | Moghanibashi-Mansourieh, A. (2020) Assessing the anxiety level of Iranian general population during COVID-19 outbreak. Asian Journal of Psychiatry. 51, 102076. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2020.102076. |
| [20] | Maroufizadeh, S., Pourshaikhian, M., Pourramzani, A., Sheikholeslami, F., Moghadamnia, M. T. and Alavi, S. A. (2020) Prevalence of Anxiety and Depression in General Population of Iran during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Web-Based Cross-Sectional Study. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-39082/v1. |
| [21] | Agüero, J. M. (2021) COVID-19 and the rise of intimate partner violence. World Development. 137, 105217. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2020.105217. |
| [22] | Agberotimi, S. F., Akinsola, O. S., Oguntayo, R. and Olaseni, A. O. (2020) Interactions Between Socioeconomic Status and Mental Health Outcomes in the Nigerian Context Amid COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comparative Study. Frontiers in Psychology, Frontiers Media S. A. 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.559819. |
| [23] | Heath, S. (2020) Socioeconomic Status Tied to Mental Health During Coronavirus [Internet]. EngagementHIT. |
| [24] | Fancourt, D., Steptoe, A. and Bu, F. (2020) Trajectories of anxiety and depressive symptoms during enforced isolation due to COVID-19 in England: a longitudinal observational study. The Lancet Psychiatry, Elsevier. 0. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30482-X. |
| [25] | Alkhamees, A. A., Alrashed, S. A., Alzunaydi, A. A., Almohimeed, A. S. and Aljohani, M. S. (2020) The psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the general population of Saudi Arabia. Comprehensive Psychiatry. 102, 152192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2020.152192. |
| [26] | Zhang, X. R., Huang, Q. M., Wang, X. M., Cheng, X., Li, Z. H., Wang, Z. H. et al. (2020) Prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms, and association with epidemic-related factors during the epidemic period of COVID-19 among 123,768 workers in China: A large cross-sectional study. Journal of Affective Disorders. 277, 495–502. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.08.041. |
| [27] | Özdin, S. and Bayrak Özdin, Ş. (2020) Levels and predictors of anxiety, depression and health anxiety during COVID-19 pandemic in Turkish society: The importance of gender. International Journal of Social Psychiatry. 66, 504–11. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764020927051. |
| [28] | Smith, L., Jacob, L., Yakkundi, A., McDermott, D., Armstrong, N. C., Barnett, Y. et al. (2020) Correlates of symptoms of anxiety and depression and mental wellbeing associated with COVID-19: a cross-sectional study of UK-based respondents. Psychiatry Research. 291, 113138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113138. |
| [29] | Asibong U, Okafor CJ, Asibong I, Ayi E, Omoronyia O, Owoidoho U. (2020) Psychological distress and social media usage: A survey among undergraduates of a university in Calabar, Nigeria. Niger Postgrad Med J. 27 (2): 115-21. |
| [30] | Hamzat, S. A. and Otulugbu, D. (2020) Social Media Use and the Challenges of Information Social Media Use and the Challenges of Information Dissemination during Emergencies: Experience of Library and Dissemination during Emergencies: Experience of Library and Information Scientists on COVID-19. Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal). 4267. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/4267. |
| [31] | Aluh, D., Chukwuobasi, T. and Mosanya, A. (2019) A cross-sectional survey of social media anxiety among students of university of Nigeria. Journal of Mental Health and Human Behaviour. 24, 51. https://doi.org/10.4103/jmhhb.jmhhb_64_19. |
| [32] | Togun, E. (2020) Social media and the spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria. BMJ Journals COVID-19. https://blogs.bmj.com/covid-19/2020/08/26/social-media-and-the-spread-of-covid-19-in-nigeria/. |
| [33] | Kim, A. W., Nyengerai, T. and Mendenhall, E. (2020) Evaluating the Mental Health Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Urban South Africa: Perceived Risk of COVID-19 Infection and Childhood Trauma Predict Adult Depressive Symptoms. MedRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.06.13.20130120. |
APA Style
Ekaete Tobin, Esther Okogbenin, Andrew Obi. (2021). A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study of Anxiety and Depression Associated with the COVID-19 Pandemic in Nigeria. Central African Journal of Public Health, 7(3), 127-135. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20210703.16
ACS Style
Ekaete Tobin; Esther Okogbenin; Andrew Obi. A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study of Anxiety and Depression Associated with the COVID-19 Pandemic in Nigeria. Cent. Afr. J. Public Health 2021, 7(3), 127-135. doi: 10.11648/j.cajph.20210703.16
AMA Style
Ekaete Tobin, Esther Okogbenin, Andrew Obi. A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study of Anxiety and Depression Associated with the COVID-19 Pandemic in Nigeria. Cent Afr J Public Health. 2021;7(3):127-135. doi: 10.11648/j.cajph.20210703.16
Share This Article
Twitter
Linked In
Facebook
Copy
Download@article{10.11648/j.cajph.20210703.16,
author = {Ekaete Tobin and Esther Okogbenin and Andrew Obi},
title = {A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study of Anxiety and Depression Associated with the COVID-19 Pandemic in Nigeria},
journal = {Central African Journal of Public Health},
volume = {7},
number = {3},
pages = {127-135},
doi = {10.11648/j.cajph.20210703.16},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20210703.16},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.cajph.20210703.16},
abstract = {The COVID-19 pandemic has created mental health challenges among the public. The study objectives were to determine the prevalence of anxiety, depression and associated factors among the general public in Nigeria during the COVID-19 pandemic. The cross-sectional study was conducted between May 2020 and June 2020 using an online questionnaire that captured sociodemographic data, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD-7), depression (PHQ-9), lifestyle practices, self-rated health, and exposure to COVID-19 information through social media. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Science with associations tested at 95% confidence interval. Appropriate institutional ethical board approval was obtained, and informed consent obtained from all participants. 543 adults participated, 101 (18.6%) and 131 (24.1%) respondents were classified as having depressive and anxiety disorders respectively. Females (χ2=11.06, p 2=7.95, p=0.02). A considerable proportion of respondents experienced anxiety and depression, especially persons with unhealthy lifestyles and poor health. Interventions to improve mental health should target these at-risk groups.},
year = {2021}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study of Anxiety and Depression Associated with the COVID-19 Pandemic in Nigeria AU - Ekaete Tobin AU - Esther Okogbenin AU - Andrew Obi Y1 - 2021/05/31 PY - 2021 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20210703.16 DO - 10.11648/j.cajph.20210703.16 T2 - Central African Journal of Public Health JF - Central African Journal of Public Health JO - Central African Journal of Public Health SP - 127 EP - 135 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2575-5781 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20210703.16 AB - The COVID-19 pandemic has created mental health challenges among the public. The study objectives were to determine the prevalence of anxiety, depression and associated factors among the general public in Nigeria during the COVID-19 pandemic. The cross-sectional study was conducted between May 2020 and June 2020 using an online questionnaire that captured sociodemographic data, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD-7), depression (PHQ-9), lifestyle practices, self-rated health, and exposure to COVID-19 information through social media. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Science with associations tested at 95% confidence interval. Appropriate institutional ethical board approval was obtained, and informed consent obtained from all participants. 543 adults participated, 101 (18.6%) and 131 (24.1%) respondents were classified as having depressive and anxiety disorders respectively. Females (χ2=11.06, p 2=7.95, p=0.02). A considerable proportion of respondents experienced anxiety and depression, especially persons with unhealthy lifestyles and poor health. Interventions to improve mental health should target these at-risk groups. VL - 7 IS - 3 ER -
Information
Email: