Emotional and Psychological Coping: Lived Experiences of Frontline Health Care Workers (HCW) in Mutare, Zimbabwe

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science (IJRIAS) | Volume VI, Issue VI, June 2021|ISSN 2454-6194

Emotional and Psychological Coping: Lived Experiences of Frontline Health Care Workers (HCW) in Mutare, Zimbabwe

Mazvita Machinga Ph.D.¹*, Fungai Kavenga MBChB², Gillian Bowora MBChB³ and Tsitsi Murapa RGN, Bsc, MSc.^4
1,²,⁴ Africa University Fairview Rd (Off – Nyanga Rd); Old Mutare, Mutare, Zimbabwe
³ Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital. Mutare

Abstract: COVID -19 is a pandemic that none worldwide has ever experienced. Its emergence has seen health care workers (HCWs) being in the forefront of responding. Apart from the physiological distress, responding to COVID-19 has taken an emotional and psychological toll on HCWs. This study explored the psychological and emotional experiences of healthcare workers during COVID 19 and provided recommendations that support a psychologically healthy work environment. Thirty participants, non-clinical and clinical, female (n=21;70%) male (n=9; 30%) were involved. Qualitative exploratory research design, a phenomenological approach was used. Nonprobability purposive sampling was used to choose participants. Interviews with open-ended questions were used. A modified version of Colaizzi’s interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) guided data analysis. COPE inventory was used to establish coping strategies. Findings showed that Covid-19 had caused substantial psychological and emotional distress to HCWs. The HCWs reported psychological burden, fear, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Four thematic conceptualizations of coping mechanisms were identified. The need for timely mental health support and intervention was stressed. The outcome of the study was the establishment of an emotional coping protocol (ECP) that will be used in health care settings to proactively mitigate the negative effects of COVID 19 among HCWs.

KeyWords: Psychologically Health Environment, Coping strategies, Emotional Coping Protocol

I.INTRODUCTION

Large-scale disease epidemics pose various challenges to individuals of all ages and cultures. The emotional stress experienced by frontline health care workers (HCWs) during epidemics is severe, and can be enduring (Lancee W.J., 2008). The novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) epidemic has emerged and ravaged many countries globally. The disease which was declared a pandemic by World Health Organization in 2020 has been causing potential threats to the mental and psychological health of many people. As asserted by researchers, “the coronavirus disease pandemic has created a major mental health challenge throughout the world (Mamun & Griffiths, 2020). The pandemic has caused stress and worry in the general population and most significantly to health care workers. Various studies conducted during the main outbreaks from SARS to the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and to the current COVID-19, showed that health care staff report high levels of stress. The effect also resulted in depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Guo J, Liao L, Wang B, Li X, Guo L, Tong Z, et al., 2020). The HCWs’ constant exposure to infected people, deaths, and new infection rates, thus, leads to a toll on psychological and emotional wellbeing.

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