Comparison of Psychological Morbidity of Health Care Workers Posted in COVID and Non COVID Labour Rooms

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic had not only burdened healthcare systems all over the world but had also affected mental health of frontline Health Care Workers. PURPOSE: Purpose of our study was to compare the psychological morbidity of health care workers posted in Covid labour room with their counter parts in Non Covid labour room. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Present study was a cross-sectional study conducted on HCW of Covid and Non Covid labour in a span of 6 months. RESULTS: Insomnia in Covid labour room was found to be in 57% HCW as compared to none in non Covid labour room (mean score 7.47 ± 2.74 vs 1.82 ± 1.25, P Value < .0001). Depression was prevalent in 92% of participants in Covid labour room as compared to 12.5% in Non Covid labour room; however, severe depression was found in 6% participants (mean score 17.32 ± 4.88 vs 2.12 ± 1.65, P Value < .0001). Prevalence of anxiety in present study was 90% in Covid labour room and 6% in non Covid labour room (mean score 11.47 ± 4.57 vs 1.94 ± 1.43, P Value < .0001). Psychological morbidity as tested by Symptom Check List-k-9 was positive in 21.8% participants in Covid Labour room as compared to 1% in Non Covid labour room (mean score 5.57 ± 2.58 vs 2.22 ± 1.89, P Value < .0001). CONCLUSION: Study revealed significantly high psychological morbidity, insomnia, anxiety and depression in the health care workers in Covid labour room than Non Covid labour room. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13224-021-01465-2.