Assessment of mental health outcomes and associated factors among workers in community-based HIV care centers in the early stage of the COVID-19 outbreak in Mali.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In Mali, the non-governmental association (NGO) ARCAD Santé PLUS launched the CovidPrev program in response to the COVID-19 outbreak to ensure continuity of HIV care-related activities. This study aimed to identify individual and structural factors associated with mental health disorders (MHD) in the NGO's healthcare workers (HCW) in the early stage of the outbreak.
METHODS: Data were collected between April 6 and 11, 2020 for 135 HCW in ARCAD Santé PLUS's 18 community-based HIV care centers. Outcomes corresponded to the PHQ-9, GAD-7 and ISI instruments for depression, anxiety and insomnia, respectively. A general mixture model with a negative binomial distribution was implemented.
RESULTS: Most HCW were men (60.7%) and median age was 40 years IQR[33-46]. Symptoms of depression, anxiety and insomnia were declared by 71.9, 73.3, and 77% participants, respectively. Women were at greater risk of MHD. A lack of personal protection equipment and human resources, especially nurses, was associated with a high risk of MHD.
CONCLUSIONS: Health policy must place non-front line HCW, including those in NGOs, at the core of the healthcare system response to the COVID-19 outbreak, as they ensure continuity of care for many diseases including HIV. The efficacy of public health strategies depends on the capacity of HCW to fully with and competently perform their duties.

Introduction

As of July 14, 2020, the COVID-19 case-fatality rate in Mali was the fifth highest in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) African region, and the third highest among West African countries, with deaths representing 5.0% of total cases behind 6.2% and 5.1% in Niger and Burkina Faso, respectively [1]. The first cases in Mali were observed on March 25, 2020, over a month after the continent’s first case, and 6 and 16 days after the two abovementioned countries, respectively. However, the number of cumulated cases in Mali was much higher up to July 14: 2423 cases versus 1037 and 1099 cases in Burkina Faso and Niger, respectively [1]. The lag between Africa’s first cases and those in Mali did not create the same opportunity – in terms of prompt emergency preparation – which the lag in 2014 created during the Ebola outbreak. Moreover, international aid has slowed down because of COVID-19s pandemic status. Data for Mali indicate that authorities’ proactive decisions to contain the disease’s spread, including commercial air traffic interruption, bans on mass gatherings and curfews, [2] have been insufficient. Furthermore, as observed elsewhere, the public health response is being undermined by poor adherence to social distancing for different reasons [3], [4]. However, the most likely explanation for Mali’s higher vulnerability and poorer medical outcomes is its inherently weak healthcare system. Compared with Niger and Burkina Faso, the shortage of healthcare workers (HCW), health expenditures and infrastructure is more acute in Mali [5]. More specifically, the country’s dependency on foreign aid, unreliable medical equipment, difficulties to procure drugs [6], staff attrition [7], shortage of human resources (HR) [8], [9] and resulting degradation of working conditions – including increased workload [10], [11], [12]- all contribute to putting HCW who are on the front line fighting COVID-19 under greater stress. Added to this is the fact that care for COVID-19 is only concentrated in 6 hospitals (5 in Bamako and 1 in Kati (19 Km from Bamako)) positioned at the top of the country’s 4-level healthcare pyramid [13]. The deleterious impact on HCW mental health [14], [15] because of the these structural problems and unpreparedness to contain COVID-19 constitutes a serious public health issue [16]. Unfortunately, data about mental health among HCW in Mali is inexistent. However, the WHO asserts that increasing terrorism and insecurity in Mali since 2012 are two factors that could have mental health implications for the general population [17], and therefore this would include HCW.

Lessons learned from previous disease outbreaks in the world, such as SARS-Cov-1 in 2003, which resulted in severe psychological damage in HCW, highlighted the need to strengthen HCW mental resilience and their preparation for new outbreaks, by providing psychological first aid [18], [19], [20], [21]. Despite this, a growing body of literature on the current COVID-19 outbreak indicates a high prevalence of mental health disorders (MHD) in HCW, suggesting they were not adequately prepared for the magnitude of this pandemic [22], [23], [24], [25], [26], [27], [28]. Studies found that between 20.1 and 64.7% of HCW had depressive symptoms, 35.1 to 51.6% anxiety symptoms, and 18.2 and 38.9% insomnia [25], [26], [27], [29]. MHD were often associated with gender, occupational differences, age [26], [27], [30], place of work, and poor social support [31]. Although structural factors were evoked in some cases as moderators of MHD risk [28], no study to date has adequately examined their effect on HCW psychological outcomes. The current unprecedented pandemic is expected to have a long-lasting effect on mental health, especially for HCW [32], [33]. Various studies all urge specific interventions to mitigate this effect, and to ensure HCW wellbeing during and after the pandemic [34], [35], [36]. Training, social support, communication, and effective health equipment procurement are the primary elements suggested [37], [38], [39], [40], [41], [42], [43]. However, most of the abovementioned studies concerned developed countries, and focused primarily on front-line HCW. Few studies to date have highlighted the importance of also taking into account non-front-line HCW, including community health workers (CHW) and other non-medical staff [39], [44]. Indeed, the absence of significant differences in psychological outcomes between these HCW and their front-line counterparts suggests that the risk of MHD during the current outbreak is similar in both groups [24], especially in low-income countries [21]. Furthermore, empirical studies performed to date were all conducted at an advanced stage (understood here as between 2 and 4 months after the outbreak started) in the countries investigated. They did not account for psychological profiles at outbreak onset (i.e., baseline) or in the early stage (understood here as the first 2 weeks). The mental health impact of COVID-19 might be more severe on HCW with a fragile baseline profile [19], [35]. Accordingly, while assessing MHD as the outbreak develops is vital to provide suitable psychological support, understanding profiles in the early stage is also essential to identify the most vulnerable HCW.

COVID-19′s rapid spread throughout the world raised the question early on of whether African countries, especially those in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), were adequately prepared or not [45], [46], [47], [48]. Although the extent of the outbreak is currently less dramatic than initially feared, SSA authorities continue to give top priority to its containment, with little attention for preexisting serious public health concerns, especially the fight against malaria, tuberculosis and HIV. The potential interruption of prevention activities and treatment (e.g., antiretroviral treatment (ART)) could harm the advances already made by SSA countries in this fight [49], [50]. Fortunately, the work of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) – which play a crucial role in controlling these diseases in SSA countries – is, at least in part, compensating for this lack of attention. Furthermore, lessons learned by NGOs from previous outbreaks and epidemics, especially HIV, are invaluable, and must be integrated into the overall response to COVID-19 and future outbreaks [2], [51]. NGOs providing healthcare services in Mali are located at the bottom level of the country’s 4-level healthcare pyramid, specifically at the community level. Together with public community healthcare centers, they offer basic health services (e.g. essential medicines, maternity room, prevention and promotion of health, etc.) and are the main point of entry into the healthcare system. HCW in these healthcare structures screen for people with health conditions (e.g. people with COVID-19 symptoms) requiring referral to structures in the 3 higher levels of care (district, regional, or national) [52], [53].

The involvement of some Malian NGOs in health promotion and care activities has contributed to the achievement of important milestones in the country’s response to other epidemics, such as HIV. This is especially true of ARCAD Santé PLUS, the main Malian NGO working on improving access to healthcare for people living with HIV (PLWH) and other vulnerable populations since 1994. In December 2019, the number of PLWH receiving HIV care in the NGO’s 18 healthcare sites – located in 6 of the country’s 10 administrative regions – was close to 29 000, or 26% of the PLWH in Mali. This is a substantial figure when one considers that only 35% of all PLWH in Mali had access to ART in 2016 [54]. The main challenge faced by ARCAD Santé PLUS in the current context is how to adopt government indications to prevent COVID-19 in the workplace. This includes adjusting working hours and adapting HIV care centers’ opening hours to reduce patient flow, while guaranteeing continued prevention and care for HIV and other health problems. On April 1, 2020 (6 days after the first COVID-19 cases in Mali), ARCAD Santé PLUS launched the CovidPrev program whose main objective is to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection in its HCW (whether salaried or volunteers) and in PLWH frequenting its centers [2].

CovidPrev’s planned reorganization of activities and the continued uncertainty surrounding the outbreak, together with the need to guarantee HIV care-related activities, constitute a double burden for the NGO’s workers. Although not on the front line in the fight against COVID-19, their mental health might be seriously harmed by these supplementary sources of MHD. Prospective research is vital for NGOs to achieve their objectives as part of national public health strategies. However, to our knowledge, no empirical evidence exists concerning the impact of COVID-19 on public health in Africa, and especially on the mental health of front-line and non-front-line HCW. ARCAD Santé PLUS’s activities directly related to the delivery of healthcare are performed by doctors, pharmacy doctors, midwives and nurses. Activities related to prevention (e.g., health awareness, support for treatment adherence) and social support (e.g., moral, material) are primarily performed by CHW (including community mobilizers and navigators) and psychosocial counselors. These two caregiver categories account for a large proportion of ARCAD Santé PLUS’s staff, and are continuously provided training for the promotion of health-, disease- and population-based issues, especially those related to HIV and STIs. Finally, administrative and logistics personnel ensure that the operation runs as smoothly as possible. In terms of the current COVID-19 pandemic, HCW proximity to people – indoors and outdoors – makes them an important vector for disseminating information about COVID-19 in order to protect PLWH and other vulnerable populations. As one of ARCAD Santé PLUS’s top priorities has always been to protect its HCW from health problems – in order to ensure they can optimally provide HIV prevention and care – just days after the NGO’s launch of its CovidPrev program, we implemented a public health and social sciences action research study aimed at providing the NGO with data about the current mental health state of its workforce, so that it could incorporate targeted measures in its CovidPrev Program to protect its HCW. More specifically, this study explored individual and structural factors associated with depression, anxiety and insomnia in this workforce.

Materials and methods

Data were collected from April 6 to 11, 2020 (i.e., two weeks after the first two COVID-19 cases in Mali) for HCW (salaried and volunteers) in ARCAD Santé PLUS’s 18 community-based HIV care centers, located in 6 administrative regions in Mali (Koulikoro, Kayes, Mopti, Ségou, Sikasso, Gao) and in the capital Bamako (Fig. 1 ).

Fig. 1

Location of ARCAD Santé PLUS’s community-based HIV care centers in Mali and their caseloads: (a) by region; (b) in Bamako and surrounding areas; and (c) in Bamako.

To be eligible, participants had to be at least 18 years old, and planned to work throughout the outbreak. A self-administered questionnaire collected the following information: demographic and socioeconomic data, self-perceived health status, mental health data, and basic COVID-19 awareness. In addition, structural factors (characteristics) of the 18 HIV care centers (number of years open, HIV caseload, number of doctors, nurses, etc.) were provided by facility managers. Study approval was obtained from the Malian ethical committee (N°2020/57/CE/FMOS/FAPH).

Outcomes

Analyses were performed for three MHD. The 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was used to assess depression and its severity [55] (total score from 0 to 27). The 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Assessment (GAD-7) was used to measure anxiety [56] (from 0 to 21). Finally, the 7-item Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) assessed participant insomnia during the month preceding the survey [57] (from 0 to 28). All three tools were implemented in their validated French version [58], [59], [60]. Analyses were performed for the three continuous scores.

Individual characteristics

The following potential individual characteristics to explain individual variability in the outcomes were tested: age (continuous variable); gender (woman = 1 vs man = 0); marital status: married/cohabitating (=1) or single/separated/divorced/widowed (=0); a three-category variable for the number of financially dependent family members, constructed using the median as the cutoff (none, 1–7, and >7); self-perceived health status: “good” (=1) or “very good”/“excellent” (=0); worker type classified into a four-category variable as follows: (i) doctors, pharmacy doctors and midwives; (ii) nurses; (iii) CHW (including community mobilizers and navigators) and psychosocial counselors; (iv) other, including administrative and logistics personnel (secretary, driver, etc.). It is important to note that the worker type variable reflects not only the activity type, but is also a proxy of the worker’s education level: higher than high-school for nurses, midwives, pharmacy doctors and doctors; and lower than high-school for the other worker categories.

To measure preexisting (i.e., prior to the COVID-19 outbreak) serious work-related psychological damage resulting from ethical or moral transgression in the workplace, participants answered the 9-item Moral Injury Event Scale (MIES) [61]. Two sub-scores – perceived transgression (ranging from 1 to 36) and perceived betrayal (1–18) – were constructed, and specified as continuous variables. Finally, basic COVID-19 awareness was assessed using UNICEF’s “fact or fiction” 10-question quiz (Appendix 1) with a score ranging from 0 (no correct response) to 10 (all responses correct).

HIV care center characteristics

The following potential structural characteristics (all continuous variables) to explain variability in the outcomes due to differences between HIV care centers were tested: the number of years since the center opened, and 6 other variables assessing the density of personnel (per 100 patients) for 6 worker categories (required to permit separate analyses): (i) doctors, (ii) pharmacy doctors, (iii) midwives, (iv) nurses, (v) CHW and (vi) psychosocial counselors.

Healthcare supply characteristics were tested by constructing dichotomous variables indicating whether the center offered (=1) or not (=0) each of the following 12 services: (i) medical consultation for the general population, (ii) specific medical consultation for key populations, (iii) HIV screening, (iv) HIV care for adults and/or pediatric care, (v) delivery of ARV drugs, (vi) biomedical analyses, (vii) nursing care, viii) community-based talks and/or distribution of condoms and lubricants, (ix) psychological care, (x) HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) delivery, (xi) HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) delivery, and (xii) social/financial support.

Equipment characteristics were tested by constructing 5 dichotomous variables indicating whether each center had (=1) or not (=0) the following items: (i) an electricity generator, (ii) air conditioning, and (iii) a refrigerator. With regard to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), dichotomous variables indicated the availability (=1) or not (=0) of: (i) face masks, (ii) gowns, (iii) safety goggles, and (iv) gloves.

Finally, an indicator recorded potential drug stock-outs during the previous 6 months (between October 2019 and March 2020) (yes = 1 or no = 0).

Statistical analyses

Descriptive statistics were calculated for the sample. For the PHQ-9, GAD-7 and ISI scores, statistics included the proportion of non-zero scores, their mean (standard deviation), and median with interquartile range [IQR]. Furthermore, for descriptive purposes only, cutoffs of ≥10, ≥7, and ≥15 were used to distinguish severity for depression, anxiety, and insomnia, respectively [55], [56], [57], [58], [59]. Estimations were performed with the outcomes specified as continuous dependent variables. A general mixture model (GMM) with a negative binomial (NB) distribution was used (see Appendix 2 for details on the estimation strategy).

All statistical analyses were conducted using R software, version 4.0.0 [62].

Results

Of the 188 workers identified in ARCAD Santé PLUS’s 18 community-based HIV care centers, 135 were working at the time of data collection and intended to continue working throughout the outbreak (Table 1 ) (study population). Most were men (60.7%) and median age was 40 years IQR [33], [34], [35], [36], [37], [38], [39], [40], [41], [42], [43], [44], [45], [46] (see Table 1 for more details on individual characteristics).

Table 1

Characteristics of the study population (N = 135) and HIV care centers (N = 18).

	N	%
Individual characteristics (categorical)
Sex
Men	82	60.7
Women	53	39.3
Marital status
Single/separated/divorced/widowed	45	33.3
Married/cohabitating	90	66.7
Number of economically-dependent family members
None	14	10.4
1–7	59	43.7
>7	62	45.9
Self-perceived health status
Very good/excellent	112	83.0
Good	23	17.0
Worker’s position in the community-based HIV center
Doctor/pharmacy doctor/midwife	35	25.9
Nurse	20	14.8
CHW or psychosocial counselor	52	38.5
Other	28	20.7
Individual characteristics (continuous)
Age
Median [IQR]	40	[33–46]
Min: , Max:	22	60
MIES: Perceived moral transgression (range 1–36)
Median [IQR]	15	[6–26]
Min: , Max:	1	36
MIES: Perceived betrayal (range 1–18)
Median [IQR]	6	[3–10]
Min: , Max:	1	18
Index of COVID-19 awareness (range 0–10)a
Median [IQR]	7	[7–8]
Min: , Max:	0	10
PHQ-9 (depression) (range 0–27)
Proportion of non-zero scores: N (%)	97	71.9
Non-zero scores: mean (sd)	6.5	(4.3, 18.5)
MODERATE/severe (score ≥ 10)b	25	18.5
Median [IQR]	3	[0–8]
Min: , Max:	0	19
GAD-7 (anxiety) (range 0–21)
Proportion of non-zero scores: N (%)	99	73.3
Non-zero scores: mean (sd, var)	5.6	(4.5, 20.25)
Moderate/severe (score ≥ 7)b	29	21.5
Median [IQR]	3	[0–6]
Min: , Max:	0	18
ISI (insomnia) (range 0–28)
Proportion of non-zero scores: N (%)	104	77.0
Non-zero scores: mean (sd)	6.1	(4.0, 16.0)
moderate/severe (score ≥ 15)b	3	2.2
Median[IQR]	4	[1–7]
Min: , Max:	0	20
HIV center characteristics	Median	[IQR]
Number of years since opening	8	[7–10]
HR availability (per 100 PLWH)
Doctors	0.13	[0.06–0.20]
Pharmacy doctors	0.09	[0.04–0.18]
Midwivesc	–	–
Nurses	0.10	[0.02–0.20]
CHW	0.01	[0.01–0.37]
Psychosocial counselors	0.06	[0.0–0.17]
	No of HIV care centers	No of participants (%)
Healthcare supply
Medical consultation for general population
No	3	15 (11.1)
Yes	15	120 (88.9)
Specific medical consultation for key populations
No	4	21 (15.6)
Yes	14	114 (84.4)
HIV screeningd
No	–	–
Yes	18	135 (100.0)
HIV care for adults and/or pediatric care
No	2	20 (14.8)
Yes	16	115 (85.2)
Delivery of antiretroviral drugs
No	2	20 (14.8)
Yes	16	115 (85.2)
Biomedical analyses
No	5	37 (27.4)
Yes	13	98 (72.6)
Nursing care
No	5	19 (14.1)
Yes	13	116 (85.9)
Community-based talks and/or distribution of condoms and lubricants
No	2	9 (6.7)
Yes	16	126 (93.3)
Psychological cared
No	–	–
Yes	18	135 (100.0)
Delivery of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)
No	16	113 (83.7)
Yes	2	22 (16.3)
Delivery of HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)
No	5	27 (20.0)
Yes	13	108 (80.0)
Social/financial support
No	7	41 (30.4)
Yes	11	94 (69.6)
Equipment in HIV care centers
Electricity generator
No	14	86 (63.7)
Yes	4	49 (36.3)
Air conditioning
No	3	18 (13.3)
Yes	15	117 (86.7)
Refrigeratord
No	–	–
Yes	18	135 (100.0)
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Face masks
No	12	77 (57.0)
Yes	6	58 (43.0)
Gownss
No	13	93 (68.9)
Yes	5	42 (31.1)
Safety gogglesd
No	18	135 (100.0)
Yes	–	–
Gloves
No	1	11 (8.1)
Yes	17	124 (91.9)
Drug stock-outs
During the previous 6 months (October 2019–March 2020)
No	10	64 (47.4)
Yes	8	71 (52.6)

Constructed using correct responses to UNICEF’s “Fact or fiction” quiz (see Appendix 1).

Presented only for descriptive purposes, as multivariable models were estimated using these scores as continuous variables.

Two HIV care centers declared 1 midwife. The density of midwives for these two centers was 0.01 and 0.02 per 100 PLWH, respectively, although the median and IQR were equal to 0.

These variables were not tested in the model as they were constant across all 18 HIV care centers (i.e., response was similar for all centers).

With respect to study outcomes, Table 1 shows that mean scores were lower than their corresponding variances, justifying the choice to use an NB distribution instead of a Poisson distribution (assuming equal mean and variance). PHQ-9, GAD-7 and ISI scores indicated high prevalences of depression, anxiety and insomnia symptoms in the study population (71.9%, 73.3% and 77%, respectively). Furthermore, 18.5% and 21.5% of all participants had moderate/severe depression and anxiety, respectively, whereas only 2.2% had severe/moderate insomnia.

Half the HIV care centers opened before 2012 (Table 1), the median years of activity being 8 IQR[7-12]. In terms of HR availability, median densities (all values per 100 patients) of doctors and nurses were 0.13 (IQR[0.06–0.20]) and 0.10 (IQR[0.02–0.20]), respectively. The most disadvantaged HIV care centers (i.e., the 25% corresponding to the 1st quartile) had extremely limited HR, especially nurses (<0.02) and CHW (<0.01), and no psychosocial counselors.

The most severe PPE shortages concerned goggles (no center), face masks (only 5 centers) and gowns (only 6 centers). Eight centers had experienced drug stock-outs in the 6 months preceding the survey, mostly of ARVs and drugs for opportunistic infections (see Table 1 for more details on services provided).

Do HIV center characteristics matter for workers’ mental health?

The LR-test comparing 1-level and 2-level null models concluded that variability in PHQ-9 (depression), GAD-7 (anxiety) and ISI (insomnia) scores were due to both individual characteristics and differences in HIV care center characteristics, as indicated by the ICC: 33%, 31% and 16% of the total variability, respectively (see bottom of Table 3).

Table 3

Two-level model for the estimation of individual and structural factors associated with MHD among HCW (N = 135) in ARCAD Santé PLUS’s 18 HIV care centers.

	PHQ-9 (Depression)			GAD-7 (Anxiety)			ISI (Insomnia)
	IRR	95%CI	p-value	IRR	95%CI	p-Value	IRR	95%CI	p-Value
1-Level: Individual characteristics
Gender (ref: Men)
Women	1.60	(1.16–2.21)	0.004	1.34	(0.95–1.89)	0.090	1.53	(1.12–2.09)	0.007
Number of economically-dependent family members (ref: None)
1–7	2.15	(1.12–4.11)	0.021	–	–	–	–	–	–
>7	2.48	(1.31–4.68)	0.005	–	–	–	–	–	–
Perceived health status (ref: very good/excellent)
Good	–	–	–	1.52	(1.05–2.22)	0.028	–	–	–
Worker’s position in the community-based HIV center (ref: other)
Doctor/pharmacy doctor/midwife	1.25	(0.81–1.93)	0.309	–	–	–	1.27	(0.83–1.93)	0.266
Nurse	0.40	(0.20–0.77)	0.006	–	–	–	0.51	(0.29–0.93)	0.027
CHW or psychosocial counselor	0.75	(0.51–1.12)	0.164	–	–	–	0.65	(0.43–0.98)	0.042
Moral injury event scale (MIES)
Perceived moral transgression (range 1–36)	1.04	(1.02–1.05)	<0.001	1.03	(1.01–1.04)	0.001	–	–	–
Perceived betrayal (range 1–18)	–	–	–	–	–	–	1.06	(1.02–1.09)	0.001
2-Level: Structural characteristics
Healthcare supply
Medical consultation for general population (ref: no)	4.67	(1.79–12.20)	0.002	–	–	–	–	–	–
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Face masks (ref: no)	0.49	(0.34–0.70)	<0.001	0.38	(0.21–0.67)	0.001	0.57	(0.38–0.86)	0.008
HR availability (per 100 PLWH)
Nurses	0.09	(0.01–0.57)	0.011	0.05	(0.01–0.62)	0.020	–	–	–
Random Effects (adjusted model)
σ2	0.67			0.69			0.62
τ00	≈ 0			0.12			0.04
ICC	≈ 0			0.15			0.07
Random Effects (null model)
σ2	0.78			0.75			0.71
τ00a	0.39			0.34			0.13
ICC	0.33			0.31			0.16

LR-test statistics comparing the 1-level vs the 2-level null models were 326.8 for depression, 298.4 for anxiety, and 231.2 for insomnia. The null hypothesis indicating that 2-level variability is equal to zero (H0: τ00 = 0) was rejected, as the LR-test statistics were higher than the value for the χ2(1) distribution at the 95% confidence level (3.94).

Depression (PHQ-9)

Bivariate analysis in Table 2 showed that the higher the number of financially-dependent family members, the higher the risk of depression (p = 0.037). This was similar for those who self-perceived good health status (versus very good/excellent, p = 0.029), and for those with a strong perception of work-related moral transgression (p < 0.001) and/or betrayal (p = 0.010). Nurses had the lowest risk of depression (p = 0.006). With regard to structural characteristics, medical consultations for the general population (p < 0.001) and ARV delivery (p = 0.036) were associated with a higher risk of depression. In contrast, depression was less likely in HCW in centers with a higher density of nurses (p = 0.045) and greater availability of face masks (p = 0.039).

Table 2

Characteristics of the study population (N = 135) and HIV care centers (N = 18).*

	PHQ-9 (Depression)				GAD-7 (Anxiety)				ISI (Insomnia)
	IRR	95%CI	p-value	LR-testp-valuea	IRR	95%CI	p-Value	LR-testp-valuea	IRR	95%CI	p-Value	LR-testp-valuea
1-Level: Individual characteristics
Age	1.01	(0.99–1.03)	0.482	0.008	1.00	(0.98–1.02)	0.938	0.007	1.01	(1.00–1.03)	0.131	0.021
Gender (ref: Men)
Women	1.39	(0.99–1.96)	0.061	0.172	1.47	(1.05–2.05)	0.027	0.076	1.42	(1.03–1.96)	0.030	0.097
Marital status (ref: Single/separated/divorced/widowed)
Married/cohabitating	1.12	(0.77–1.63)	0.557	0.291	1.30	(0.90–1.88)	0.160	0.464	1.12	(0.79–1.58)	0.534	0.271
Number of economically-dependent family members (ref: None)
1–7	1.46	(0.72–2.95)	0.298	0.063	1.43	(0.73–2.81)	0.301	0.966	1.54	(0.79–3.00)	0.210	0.948
>7	2.10	(1.05–4.20)	0.037		1.58	(0.80–3.11)	0.187		1.60	(0.83–3.11)	0.162
Perceived health status (ref: very good/excellent)
Good	1.54	(1.05–2.28)	0.029	0.081	1.65	(1.13–2.40)	0.009	0.028	1.54	(1.06–2.23)	0.024	0.079
Worker’s position in the community-based HIV center (ref: other)
Doctor/pharmacy doctor/midwife	1.03	(0.66–1.60)	0.902	0.043	1.01	(0.64–1.59)	0.976	0.775	1.16	(0.75–1.80)	0.490	0.260
Nurse	0.37	(0.18–0.75)	0.006		0.67	(0.37–1.20)	0.175		0.55	(0.30–1.00)	0.052
CHW or psychosocial counselor	0.91	(0.60–1.38)	0.655		0.87	(0.57–1.33)	0.526		0.85	(0.56–1.30)	0.458
Moral injury event scale (MIES) score
Perceived moral transgression (range 1–36)	1.03	(1.01–1.05)	0.001	0.091	1.03	(1.01–1.04)	0.001	0.141	1.02	(1.00–1.03)	0.055	0.039
Perceived betrayal (range 1–18)	1.04	(1.01–1.08)	0.010	0.661	1.02	(0.99–1.06)	0.148	0.037	1.05	(1.02–1.08)	0.002	0.113
COVID-19
Awareness index	0.92	(0.81–1.03)	0.154	0.179	0.91	(0.80–1.02)	0.101	0.259	0.97	(0.86–1.10)	0.645	0.064
2-Level: HIV Center characteristics (using the best-fit model for 1-level variables)
Number of years since center opened	0.95	(0.88–1.02)	0.180	0.084	0.96	(0.89–1.04)	0.337	0.051	1.01	(0.96–1.07)	0.649	0.024
Healthcare supply
Medical consultation for general population (ref: no)	5.49	(1.98–15.16)	<0.001	0.001	1.89	(0.69–5.17)	0.214	0.143	1.23	(0.62–2.46)	0.553	0.740
Specific medical consultation for key populations (ref: no)	0.91	(0.43–1.91)	0.802	0.759	0.90	(0.42–1.92)	0.776	0.910	1.41	(0.79–2.54)	0.249	0.361
HIV screening (ref: no)b	Not tested				Not tested				Not tested
HIV care for adults/and pediatric (ref: no)	2.29	(0.96–5.45)	0.061	0.057	2.27	(0.96–5.40)	0.063	0.064	1.17	(0.62–2.20)	0.636	0.630
Delivery of antiretroviral drugs (ref: no)	2.62	(1.07–6.43)	0.036	0.032	1.82	(0.74–4.50)	0.191	0.161	1.40	(0.72–2.74)	0.323	0.418
Biomedical analyses (ref: no)	1.22	(0.62–2.38)	0.562	0.808	1.36	(0.69–2.68)	0.374	0.462	0.81	(0.48–1.36)	0.419	0.601
Nursing care (ref: no)	0.85	(0.42–1.74)	0.658	0.798	1.16	(0.53–2.54)	0.709	0.656	1.22	(0.69–2.15)	0.491	0.696
Community-based talks /distribution of condoms and lubricants (ref: no)	1.48	(0.48–4.57)	0.494	0.257	1.67	(0.51–5.49)	0.396	0.200	1.57	(0.66–3.72)	0.306	0.251
Psychological careb	Not tested				Not tested				Not tested
Delivery of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) (ref: no)	1.49	(0.64–3.46)	0.360	0.299	1.33	(0.54–3.27)	0.539	0.403	1.37	(0.77–2.44)	0.280	0.442
Delivery of HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) (ref: no)	1.48	(0.72–3.04)	0.282	0.289	1.34	(0.64–2.81)	0.445	0.490	1.16	(0.69–1.94)	0.583	0.454
Social/financial support (ref: no)	1.22	(0.66–2.26)	0.532	0.944	1.28	(0.67–2.47)	0.458	0.625	1.04	(0.65–1.64)	0.878	0.295
Equipment in HIV care centers
Electricity generator(ref: no)	1.17	(0.60–2.28)	0.655	0.769	1.26	(0.64–2.51)	0.500	0.608	1.14	(0.71–1.83)	0.595	0.399
Air conditioning (ref: no)	0.95	(0.42–2.13)	0.892	0.809	1.07	(0.47–2.47)	0.866	0.713	0.74	(0.42–1.29)	0.287	0.539
Refrigerator (ref: no)b	Not tested				Not tested				Not tested
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Face masks (ref: no)	0.82	(0.74–0.91)	0.039	0.074	0.54	(0.30–0.98)	0.041	0.067	0.57	(0.38–0.86)	0.008	0.015
Gowns (ref: no)	1.49	(0.79–2.81)	0.217	0.298	1.29	(0.66–2.54)	0.455	0.608	1.37	(0.86–2.17)	0.283	0.394
Safety goggles (ref: no)	0.47	(0.05–4.43)	0.512	0.105	Not converged				1.23	(0.24–6.23)	0.804	0.220
Gloves (ref: no)	1.00	(0.29–3.50)	0.999	0.342	1.37	(0.37–5.09)	0.638	0.266	1.20	(0.51–2.83)	0.684	0.578
Drug stock-outs
During the previous 6 months (October 2019–March 2020) (ref: no)	1.13	(0.62–2.05)	0.695	0.540	1.35	(0.72–2.51)	0.347	0.502	1.20	(0.78–1.86)	0.409	0.479
HR availability (per 100 PLWH)
Doctors	Not converged				Not converged				Not converged
Pharmacy doctors	Not converged				Not converged				Not converged
Midwives	Not converged				Not converged				Not converged
Nurses	0.08	(0.01–0.94)	0.045	0.012	0.54	(0.03–8.45)	0.657	0.102	1.70	(0.24–11.97)	0.593	0.150
CHW	0.64	(0.29–1.43)	0.277	0.281	0.83	(0.37–1.83)	0.637	0.663	1.30	(0.76–2.24)	0.339	0.647
Psychosocial counselors	1.04	(0.07–16.46)	0.980	0.114	1.08	(0.06–18.20)	0.959	0.111	1.10	(0.15–8.03)	0.926	0.175

For the 1-level variables, the restricted model for the LR-test was the null model. For the 2-level variables, the restricted model for the LR-test was the best-fit multivariable model for 1-Level variables.

These variables were not tested in the model as they were constant across HIV care centers (i.e. the response was similar for all 18 centers).

Results in bold correspond to the eligible variables tested in the multivariable model: either with p < 0.2 or LR-test p-value <0.1.

Multivariable analysis (see Table 3) showed that depression was 60% more likely in women than in men (IRR: 1.60, 95%CI(1.16–2.21)). The risk of depression also increased with the number of financially-dependent family members as follows: 2.15 and 2.48 times higher for those declaring 1–7 (IRR: 2.15, 95%CI(1.12–4.11)) and more than 7 (IRR: 2.48, 95%CI(1.31–4.68)) members, respectively, (versus participants reporting none). In terms of worker type, nurses were 60% less likely to have depression than all three other worker categories (IRR: 0.40, 95%CI(0.20–0.77)). Finally, the greater the perception of moral transgression in the workplace, the greater the risk of depression (4% per one-point increase in the associated sub-score, IRR: 1.04, 95%CI(1.02–1.05). With respect to structural characteristics, depression was 4.67 times more likely in HCW who worked in centers offering medical consultations for the general population than centers which did not (IRR: 4.67, 95%CI(1.79–12.20)). Workers in centers where face masks were available were 51% less likely to suffer from depression than their counterparts elsewhere (IRR: 0.49, 95%CI(0.34–0.70)). Finally, the risk of depression decreased by 91% globally across all worker categories per additional nurse per 100 PLWH (IRR: 0.09, 95%CI(0.01–0.57)).

Anxiety (GAD-7)

The bivariate analysis for anxiety (Table 2) shows that women were at higher risk than men (p = 0.027). Anxiety was also more likely in participants who perceived they had good health status (versus very good/excellent) (p = 0.009). In terms of structural characteristics, face mask availability was associated with a lower risk of anxiety in participants working in centers which provided them (p = 0.041).

The higher risk of anxiety in women was a tendency in the multivariable model (Table 3) (IRR: 1.34, 95%CI(0.95–1.89)). Participants perceiving good health status had a 52% higher risk of anxiety than those who felt they were in very good/excellent health (IRR: 1.52, 95%CI(1.05–2.22)). Finally, the risk of anxiety increased by 3% per one-point increase in the perceived moral transgression sub-score (IRR: 1.03, 95%CI(1.01–1.04)). Face mask availability was associated with a 62% lower risk of anxiety in participants working in centers which provided them (IRR: 0.38, 95%CI(0.21–0.67)). Furthermore, the risk of anxiety was lower in workers in HIV care centers with a higher density of nurses, decreasing by 95% per additional nurse per 100 PLWH (IRR: 0.05, 95%CI(0.01–0.62)).

Insomnia (ISI)

Sleeping disorders were more frequent in women (p = 0.030), in those perceiving good health status (p = 0.024), and in those perceiving work-related betrayal (p = 0.002) (Table 2). In terms of structural characteristics, insomnia was related to face mask availability (p = 0.008).

Multivariable analysis (Table 3) confirmed the higher risk of insomnia in women (53%) (IRR: 1.53, 95%CI(1.12–2.09)). Insomnia also increased by 6% per one-point increase in the perceived workplace betrayal score (IRR: 1.06, 95%CI(1.02–1.09)). Worker category was related with the risk of insomnia, which was 49% lower in nurses than other HCW (IRR: 0.51, 95%CI(0.29–0.93)). Finally, the only structural factor associated with insomnia was face mask availability. Participants working in care centers where they were available had a 43% lower risk of insomnia (IRR: 0.57, 95%CI(0.38–0.86)).

Discussion

MHD prevalence was high in our study population during the early stage (i.e., first 2 weeks) of the COVID-19 outbreak in Mali. More specifically, of ARCAD Santé PLUS’s 135 non-front-line HCW who participated in the present study, 71.9%, 73.3% and 77% declared at least one symptom of depression, anxiety, and insomnia, respectively. These figures are much higher than those in studies of front-line HCW [27], [29] (61.7%, 51.6% and 38.9%, respectively) performed in countries at an advanced stage (i.e., between 2 and 4 months) after the outbreak. Furthermore, these countries had relatively more developed healthcare systems. This result suggests that ARCAD Santé PLUS’s non-front-line HCW might be more vulnerable to deteriorating psychological outcomes as the current COVID-19 outbreak progresses and after it ends.

The present article demonstrates that MHD in HCW were related not only to individual characteristics, but also to HIV care center characteristics. Specifically, the risks of having these conditions were 51%, 62% and 43% lower, respectively, in people working in HIV care centers providing face masks than in people working elsewhere. A lack of masks was also the only structural factor linked to insomnia. Furthermore, depression and anxiety were 91% and 95%, respectively, less likely to occur in HCW in HIV care centers with a higher density of nurses.

Mental health in ARCAD Santé PLUS’s CHW in Mali seemed to be associated with uncertainty about COVID-19 at the beginning of the outbreak, as suggested by the relationship between the (un)availability of face masks and insomnia, depression, and anxiety. However, the risk of the latter two MHD seemed to be also related with preexisting contexts in HIV care centers, such as HR scarcity, especially nurses. The temporary reorganization of activities planned by ARCAD Santé PLUS as part of its purpose-built CovidPrev program – including fewer working hours, lower patient flow and a reduction of some services – should attenuate workers’ exposure to psychological disorders by reducing their workload [63]. However, it is vital to also include screening for psychological disorders and suitable treatment, as these same changes may themselves lead to psychological problems [64], [65], [66]. In addition, adequate PPE must be guaranteed for HCW, especially face masks, one of the most important tools in stopping the spread of COVID-19 [37].

The relationship discovered between the density of nurses in HIV care services and workers’ psychological outcomes not only highlights areas for improvement in the management of mental health among ARCAD Santé PLUS’s HCW during the current COVID-19 outbreak, but also provides insight into how these workers’ performance in HIV-related care could be improved in the short and long terms. Our results indicate that managers should investigate whether better reallocation of nursing resources is needed according to HIV caseload, whether more nurses need to be hired, and whether improvements in doctor-nurse task-shifting – an increasingly important care strategy, especially in SSA – is necessary, especially seeing as ARCAD Santé PLUS continues to expand its offer to include more non-HIV specific health-related services. Furthermore, including CHW as a full HCW category (albeit voluntary) in all organizational changes is crucial, both during and after the current COVID-19 outbreak, as these workers play an essential role in healthcare in SSA [67], [68], [69]. CHW account for a large proportion of ARCAD Santé PLUS’s staff (20% of respondents in the present article) and their activities are central to what makes this NGO attractive to people benefitting from its services. They are crucial in reaching key populations and promoting retention in HIV prevention and care programs. Their contribution to the introduction of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV among men having sex with men in Mali is just one example of this [70].

The role of CHW (not just in Mali) in connecting the most vulnerable people with healthcare systems during the current COVID-19 outbreak highlights the importance of strengthening CHW workforces long after this pandemic ends. This observation is not new to Africa, a continent where the work of CHW during the last decade in the field of HIV has led to successful testing of new task-shifting models and has strengthened the argument for the demedicalization of prevention and care [67], [68], [69], [71], [72], [73]. However, the success of any new healthcare service model which incorporates CHW as key actors, depends not only on financial sustainability, but also on the capability of the healthcare system to limit staff attrition and to protect them – and all HCW – from potential health problems, including MHD [7].

The abovementioned implications of the relationship between structural factors and HCW MHD are supported by our results for individual factors. Apart from nurses, all other worker categories – including CHW – were at greater risk of depression and insomnia (respectively, 60% and 49% more than nurses). These results confirm the importance of taking into account non-front-line HCW mental health in related analyses [39], [44]. The present work reflects the higher work-related psychological risk among women in healthcare-related professions observed in the literature [24], [63]. Despite their non-front-line status, this finding could be explained – at least partly – by both the importance which women in general seem to attach to psychosocial support [74], and occupational exposure related to HIV care delivery [75], [76], [77]. Furthermore, our results contribute to the existing literature by demonstrating that work-related factors are not the only source of MHD. Factors related to the day-to-day life of HCW were also strongly associated with the risk of depression. Indeed, depression was over twice as likely in participants with financially-dependent family members. Family responsibilities imply not only a supplementary workload, but also mental efforts that may lead to increased levels of depression [78].

The psychological distress related to medical decisions running counter to HCW morals and ethics is an important mental health dimension. In the present article, this distress was assessed using the Moral Injury Event Scale, as suggested by Greenberg et al., and Walton et al. [41], [44]. More specifically, our results showed that the risks of depression and anxiety were higher in workers who perceived work-related moral transgression, while the risk of insomnia was higher in those perceiving work-related betrayal. Given their non-front-line status in terms of COVID-19 care, and the fact that we assessed psychological outcomes during the early stage of the outbreak, this result would seem to be mostly explained by psychological distress linked to their HIV care-related activities. The complex context which these workers are confronted with may also result in their having to take decisions which run counter to their moral and ethical values. The lack of ARV delivery during stock-outs, the slowdown in international funding for the treatment of opportunistic infections, and external intimidation because of the services they offer (e.g., counseling for men who have sex with men), are three examples where such decisions might be made.

This present article has limitations. First, although the study sample was exhaustive – in that it included HCW in ARCAD Santé PLUS’s 18 healthcare services in Mali working in the early stage of the COVID-19 outbreak and reporting that they intended to continue to work throughout the outbreak – the sample size was nevertheless small. This meant that the relationship between certain structural factors and individual psychological outcomes could not be measured, as there was insufficient variability within some structures. However, the comparability of our results for individual factors with existing literature demonstrates that implementing suitable techniques – in our case GMM with an NB distribution – helped to overcome the limitations imposed by the small sample size.

Second, our sample was not representative of the population of Malian HCW. Despite the difficulties they face, the working conditions of ARCAD Santé PLUS’s non-front-line HCW are relatively less difficult than those of their counterparts in the general Malian health system. Considering that in Mali there is a greater-than-usual shortage of HR (0.036 medical professionals per 100 patients) with respect to ARCAD Santé PLUS HIV care centers (0.23 per 100 patients, which interestingly matches the minimum recommended by the WHO [79]), our results for non-front-line HCW most likely underestimate the current situation regarding mental health in the national healthcare system. Finally, the short questionnaire used prevented the collection of more detailed information about participants’ working and living conditions. However, the choice to use a short questionnaire was governed by necessity in order to limit desirability bias, and by a desire not to overburden respondents who were already having to adapt to constantly changing circumstances related to COVID-19.

Despite these limitations, the analyses conducted here provide evidence of non-negligible MHD affecting HCW in ARCAD Santé PLUS’s care network in the early stage of the COVID-19 outbreak. In light of this action research, results from the first analyses (carried out 1 week after data collection) prompted the NGO to add two new actions to its CovidPrev program: (i) the distribution of a large quantity of basic PPE, including face masks, gloves, and cleaning products; and (ii) the drafting and distribution of an information leaflet presenting the current mental health situation of its HCW, in order to promote self-help in this population through the program’s specifically developed fora, given governmental restrictions on movement. We aim to conduct further research to investigate whether and to what degree the COVID-19 outbreak aggravates MHD in this population. More broadly, the results of the present article provide evidence-based arguments that should be taken into account in Malian healthcare policy. Irrespective of the COVID-19 outbreak, conducting situational research is crucial to understand how and to what extent the physical and mental health of HCW is related to working and living conditions. Psychosocial support is a key element in the management of day-to-day work-related activities, and becomes indispensable during serious health shocks such as the current COVID-19 outbreak.

Conclusion

The long-established trustful relationship between ARCAD Santé PLUS and users of its HIV prevention and care services is a crucial factor in ensuring the dissemination of key COVID-19 messages in Mali. Indeed, the arrival of this new disease has underlined the huge importance of HCW – front-line and non-front-line – and has placed them at the core of health systems worldwide. However, the outbreak has also revealed weaknesses in integrating non-front-line HCW in the response to COVID-19, especially HCW in NGOs who perform crucial health-related activities. These people should have been integrated early on after the outbreak, not only as important vectors for information dissemination and prevention, but also as a group whose health and well-being are at stake and need to be protected. One of the main lessons to be learned from previous outbreaks and which the current COVID-19 pandemic reminds us of, is that “not being on the front line” does not mean “not needing support to reinforce the front line”. The effectiveness of the international response to pandemic outbreaks, and in general the effectiveness of public health strategies at national and local levels, depend on the capacity of HCW to fully and competently perform their duties within the healthcare system.

Declaration of Competing Interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.