Abstract

Introduction: In the present day, the most contagious and emerging respiratory disease is Corona Virus Disease 2019 (abbreviated to COVID-19). It’s a considerable issue to public health and was first detected in Wuhan, China in December 31, 2019. It is an emerging viral infection that is spreading across the globe. Symptoms of COVID-19 infection include general symptoms (fever and myalgia), respiratory symptoms (chills, cough, coryza, sore throat, breathing difficulty), and gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea). In addition to physical impairment, COVID-19 also poses serious psychological impact and ultimately inducement of fear. There is a perceptible decline in an individual’s mental health. Stress, anxiety and depression in the general population is apparent, though frequency and severity varies widely. This is mainly due to falsehoods circulating on social media that is media paranoia; the next vulnerable population is diagnosed patients and health care workers especially those physicians dealing with quarantined patients.

Therefore, individuals should focus only on information from relevant sources and avoid spread of rumors. And since there’s no treatment yet, one should take necessary precautionary measures along with quality sleep to keep oneself physically and mentally fit. Using cross-sectional analysis, this study aimed to evaluate the burden on the mental health of the general population of Pakistan during the COVID-19 pandemic. We were also interested in exploring risk factors which jeopardize psychological wellbeing. This might assist health care workers in safeguarding psychological health of the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: To determine the psychological impact of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the general population in the vicinity of Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Karachi.

Methodology: A cross sectional study from October 2020 to January 2021 was conducted in the vicinity of Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Center in Karachi. The study was conducted on 139 visitors coming to the tertiary care hospital. The sampling technique was non probability purposive sampling. The data was collected by distributing a Structured Questionnaire. The questionnaire was given to the data collectors who distributed them to the visitors coming to the hospital; which in this case was JPMC. Written consent was taken from the participants and all ethical considerations and research protocols were observed. Data was collected in the form of pre-tested self-administered questionnaires. In order to standardize the questionnaires, a pilot study was conducted among research participants for the purpose of examining content validity. Data collected was analyzed using SPSS software version 20.0 and chi square test was used to determine factors associated with demographic profile and physical activity and dietary patterns. The statistical analysis was conducted with 95% confidence interval and p-value of <0.05 was taken as threshold of statistical significance.

Results: Out of 139 participants, 35.3%(n=49) were aged 16-21 years, 29.5%(n=41) aged from 27-36 years, 15.8%(n=22) aged 37-46 years, 14.4% (n=20) aged 46-60 years.

47.5%(n=66) were females and 52.5%(n=73) were males. 13.7%(n=19) were not formally educated, 18%(n=25) were primary educated, 15.8%(n=22) were matriculate, 26.6%(n=37) were intermediate, 16.5%(n=23) were graduates and 9.4%(n=13) were post graduate level educated. The majority of participants who were women were home makers 31.7%(n=44), 23.7%(n=33) were self employed,18.7%(n=26) were students, 13.7%(n=19) were working in the private sector and 5%(n=7) were government employees. 63.3%(n=88) were married, 36%(n=50) were single and 0.7%(n=1) was divorced. 61.9%(n=86) had children and 38.1%(n=53) had no children. 56.1%(n=78) had joint family and 43.9%(n=61) had nuclear type family. When the participants were asked what Covid was, 89.9%(n=125) responded by calling it a respiratory disease while 10.1%(n=14) did not have any idea. When asked what was the source of participants’ information regarding Covid, 55.4%(n=77) said it was media, newspaper and TV, 21.6%(n=30) was social media, 12.9%(n=18) was family and friends, 8.6%(n=12) was health professionals and only 1.4%(n=2) was verified information from WHO, Government websites and published articles. When asked whether the participants were observing safety protocols, 92.8%(n=129) said yes and 7.2%(n=10) said no.0.75(n=1) had close contact with people who traveled or resided in an epidemic area or country which had the symptoms of COVID 19 during the 14 days prior to symptoms. 10.1%(n=14) had contact with COVID 19 confirmed patients, 14 days prior to symptoms, 1.4%(n=2) had travel history to an epidemic area or country, 14 days prior to symptoms while 87.8(n=122) had no such history.

When asked how was the child care responsibility during lockdown, 31.7%(n=44) said it was difficult, 21.6%(n=30) said it was somewhat difficult, 14.4%(n=20) said it was easy, 0.7%(n=1) said somewhat easy and 31.7%(n=44) said none of these. When asked whether they perceived a threat to their personal health, 55.4%(n=77) said that they felt increased threat while 44.6%(n=62) did not feel any threat. When asked whether they perceived a threat to their financial status, 51.8%(n=72) felt major threat, 23%(n=32) felt minor threat and 25.2%(n=35) did not perceive any threat.

When the participants were asked whether they had trouble keeping their mind on things that they were reading, or watching on television, 46% (n=64) said yes while 54%(n=75) said no.Responding to the question that whether they found it hard to enjoy life, 51.1%(n=71) said yes while 48.9%(n=68) said no. When asked whether they had a lot of different physical symptoms or unusual pains, 18.7%(n=26) said yes 81.3%(n=113) said no. When asked whether they had been feeling more pessimistic or negative than usual, 38.1%(n=53) said yes while 61.9%(n=86) said no. When asked whether they had been less interested in talking to people or mixing with people than usual, 41% (n=57) said yes while 59%(n=82) said no. When asked whether they had been more worried, nervous or uptight than usual, 41%(n=57) said yes while 59%(n=82) said no. When asked whether they had been more anxious, nervous or worried than usual, 44.6%(n=62) said yes while 55.4%(n=77) said no. When asked whether they had been feeling lonely, 33.8%(n=47) said yes while 66.2% (n=92) said no.When asked whether they had been blaming themselves for things, 18%(n=25) said yes while 82%(n=114) said no.When asked whether life seemed meaningless, 33.8%(n=47) said yes while 66.2%(n=92) said no. When asked whether dying looked like a good option, 7.9%(n=11) said yes while 92.1(n=128) said no.

Conclusion: The findings of this study showed, the positive side of the picture that the majority of the participants were not found to be suffering from any symptoms of psychological stress during the Covid pandemic. There was a global lockdown in place at the time of conduction of this study and all sort of outdoor activities had been completely shut down. Despite of the stressful situation, there was an optimistic outlook on part of most of the participants . Despite of this , the process of ongoing surveillance must carry on to identify cases of psychological stress especially from vulnerable sections of population.There is a need to launch proper health education programmes that impart reliable information regarding the Covid pandemic . The health education programmes should be easily accessible, affordable and available to the general population.

Key words: Psychological impact+ Covid+ general population+ lockdown