Background: Low-income earners are particularly vulnerable to mental health, consequence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown restrictions, due to a temporary or permanent loss of income and livelihood, coupled with government-enforced measures of social distancing. This study evaluates the mental health status among low-income earners in southwestern Uganda during the first total COVID-19 lockdown in Uganda. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was undertaken amongst earners whose income falls below the poverty threshold. Two hundred and fifty-three ( n = 253) male and female low-income earners between the ages of 18 and 60 years of age were recruited to the study. Modified generalized anxiety disorder (GAD-7), Spielberger’s State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2 (STAXI-2), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) tools as appropriate were used to assess anxiety, anger, and depression respectively among our respondents. Results: Severe anxiety (68.8%) followed by moderate depression (60.5%) and moderate anger (56.9%) were the most common mental health challenges experienced by low-income earners in Bushenyi district. Awareness of mental healthcare increased with the age of respondents in both males and females. A linear relationship was observed with age and depression ( r = 0.154, P = 0.014) while positive correlations were observed between anxiety and anger ( r = 0.254, P < 0.001); anxiety and depression ( r = 0.153, P = 0.015) and anger and depression ( r = 0.153, P = 0.015). Conclusion: The study shows the importance of mental health awareness in low resource settings during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Females were identified as persons at risk to mental depression, while anger was highest amongst young males.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19 outcomes, COVID-19 response in Africa, socio-economic impacts of COVID-19, psychosocial impacts of COVID-19, hunger and COVID-19, COVID-19 hits poor harder, women dangers in COVID-19, 【초록키워드】 COVID-19, coronavirus disease, Uganda, Anxiety, Depression, lockdown, mental health, social distancing, cross-sectional, COVID-19 pandemic, risk, healthcare, male, female, Awareness, age, threshold, resource, moderate, lockdown restrictions, Beck, positive correlation, measure, GAD-7, anger, disorder, linear relationship, Mental, females, inventory, males, highest, evaluate, recruited, were used, 【제목키워드】 COVID-19, Uganda, anger, Total,