Citation

Mamun MA, Sakib N, Gozal D, Bhuiyan AI, Hossain S, Bodrud-Doza M, Al Mamun F, Hosen I, Safiq MB, Abdullah AH, Sarker MA, Rayhan I, Sikder MT, Muhit M, Lin CY, Griffiths MD, Pakpour AH. J. Affect. Disord. 2021; 279: 462-472.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jad.2020.10.036

PMID

33120247

PMCID

PMC7568472

Abstract

BACKGROUND: As with other countries worldwide, lockdown measures during the COVID-19 outbreak in Bangladesh were sudden and unexpected, and have the capacity to elicit serious psychological consequences. The present study examined the psychological consequences of COVID-19 in Bangladesh during the lockdown period.
METHODS: A nationwide online cross-sectional survey study recruited 10,067 individuals covering all 64 districts in Bangladesh via social media (April 1-10, 2020). The survey comprised questions concerning socio-demographics, knowledge of COVID-19, behavior towards COVID-19, fear of COVID-19, insomnia, depression, and suicidal ideation. Logistic regression and structural equation modeling (SEM) analyses were performed to identify the risk factors depression and suicidal ideation. Geographical information system (GIS)-based spatial analysis was used to identify district-wise susceptibility to depression and suicidal ideation.
FINDINGS: The prevalence rate of depression and suicidal ideation related to COVID-19 was 33% and 5%%. Common risk factors for suicidal ideation and depression included being young, being female, being a cigarette smoker, having comorbid diseases, having high scores on the Fear COVID-19 Scale, and having insomnia symptoms. GIS-based maps detected high depression and suicidal ideation in the capital of Bangladesh and the districts near the capital as well as coastal areas where COVID-19 prevalence was high, as compared with districts with no reported cases.
LIMITATIONS: Self-reported scales and cross-sectional design of the study.
CONCLUSION: COVID-19 is associated with major psychological impact across Bangladesh, underlining the need of strategically located psychological support measures and improved access to mental health services, especially among women and younger people.

Language: en

Keywords

Adolescent; Adult; Anxiety; Bangladesh; Bangladeshi people; COVID-19; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression; Female; Humans; Male; Pandemics; Prevalence; Psychological impact; SARS-CoV-2; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders; Stress, Psychological; Suicidal ideation; Suicidal Ideation; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult