Prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress among healthcare professionals in Mogadishu- Somalia.

Abstract Introduction. Healthcare professionals have always faced significant mental health challenges due to the demanding nature of their work. These challenges include long hours, high-pressure environments, and the emotional toll of patient care. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has amplified these issues, leading to unprecedented levels of stress, anxiety, and depression among healthcare workers (HCWs). Method. In a cross-sectional study conducted among healthcare professionals in Mogadishu during April, May, and June of 2024, a sample size of 385 participants was recruited using a convenience sampling approach. The Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale 42 (DASS 42) questionnaire was employed to assess mental health, and the data were collected and administered via KoBoToolbox. data analysis was performed using SPSS software. Result. In the study, 69.5% of healthcare professionals scored within the normal range for depression, 7.5% experienced mild depression, 11.8% had moderate depression, 9.2% were classified as having severe depression, and 2.0% were found to have extremely severe depression. For anxiety, 57.0% of healthcare professionals scored in the normal range, 9.2% had mild anxiety, 11.1% showed moderate anxiety, 9.2% were classified as having severe anxiety, and 13.4% experienced extremely severe anxiety. Regarding stress, 70.5% of healthcare professionals scored within the normal range, 8.2% experienced mild stress, 13.1% had moderate stress, 7.2% were classified as having severe stress, and 1.0% were found to have extremely severe stress. Discussion. The study on healthcare professionals in Mogadishu, Somalia, found varying levels of psychological distress, with 69.5% showing normal levels for depression, 57.0% for anxiety, and 70.5% for stress. Compared to during the pandemic, normal levels have increased for depression (53.5%) and anxiety (30.7%) but decreased for stress (84.8%). During the pandemic, a significant percentage of healthcare professionals experienced mild depression (24.9%), anxiety (36.2%), and stress (6.9%), with moderate symptoms also prevalent (Ahmed et al., 2022). Post-pandemic, there was a decrease in mild symptoms but persistent moderate levels of depression (11.8%), anxiety (11.1%), and stress (13.1%). During the pandemic, severe anxiety was prevalent at 10.7%, severe depression at 1.8%, and severe stress at 1.1% (Ahmed et al., 2022). Post-pandemic, severe depression rose to 9.2%, severe anxiety remained at 9.2%, and severe stress increased to 7.2%. Additionally, 13.4% experienced extremely severe anxiety, 2.0% extremely severe depression, and 1.0% extremely severe stress.