Prevalence and Predictors of Depression and Anxiety among Healthcare Workers in Benghazi Hospitals in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic

During the COVID-19 outbreak, health care workers faced significant psychological challenges while fighting the pandemic on the front lines. This research evaluated the mental health of front-line health workers following four years of COVID-19 efforts. This study aimed to investigate the anxiety levels and depression in HCWs in Libya after the COVID-19 pandemic and to assess the main predictors of elevated anxiety levels among them. A cross-sectional study included healthcare workers (doctors and nurses) in Benghazi hospitals who had been working during the COVID-19 pandemic and were willing to give consent. Female nurses reported the highest level of anxiety, followed by doctors. The three most critical variables that may explain the distress level were loss of control or vulnerability, worry for one's health, and the spread of the infection. Strategies for early detection and treatment of depression and anxiety should be developed for medically ill people.