EFFECT OF COVID-19 ON HEALTH OF MEDICAL PERSONNEL AMONG HOSPITALS IN ELDORET TOWN (EVALUATING PSYCHOLOGICAL, PHYSICAL, VACCINATION AND MITIGATING STRATEGIES)

Abstract

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) greatly affected medical personnel. Researchers have documented the detrimental effects of COVID-19 on the health of medical personnel, among them being high levels of infection and mortality, significant financial strains, anxiety related to both known and unknown information, and fear of ongoing impact and uncertainty. However, no such study has been done in hospitals in Eldoret. Therefore, the broader objective of the study was to investigate the effect of COVID-19 on health of medical personnel in hospitals in Eldoret town (evaluating psychological, physical, vaccination and mitigation strategies). The specific objectives were: to determine psychological effect of COVID-19 on the health of medical personnel; to examine the physical effect of COVID-19 on health of medical personnel; to interrogate the effect of COVID-19 vaccination on the health of medical personnel and to identify mitigating strategies for the effect of COVID-19 on health of medical personnel in hospitals in Eldoret Town. The study targeted all the 18 hospitals comprising 3 public and 15 private hospitals in Eldoret town. The target population included 34 doctors, 55 laboratory technicians, 71 clinical officers and 219 nurses, totalling to 379 as a population under study. A sample size representing 50% of the total population was selected for the study. In a proportionate way, doctors, laboratory technicians, clinical officers and nurses were selected in the ratio of 1:2:3:4, respectively. Stratified, proportionate and simple random sampling techniques were used. Data was gathered through a questionnaire that participants filled themselves. The study findings were analysed quantitatively. Multiple Linear regressions was applied to examine the effect of COVID-19 on the health of medical personnel. Findings indicated that psychological effect of COVID-19 had a positive and significant influence on health of medical personnel (β1 = .646, P< 0.05) and physical effects of COVID-19 had a positive and significant influence on the health of medical personnel (β1 = .326, P< 0.05). With a significance level of less than 0.05, it was deduced that the observed relationship was unlikely to have arisen purely by random chance. Highlighting the profound psychological effects (77.7%) experienced stress, physical effects (91.1%) had sleep disturbances when off duty, 95.5% agreed that vaccination significantly reduced their anxiety, while 90.0% agreed that there was constant supply of PPEs. The study results inform policy makers on the appropriate strategies to strengthen hospital capacity and prepare medical personnel to remain motivated and feel safe when responding to health crises.