TITLE:
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Mental Health of Frontline Healthcare Professionals in Mali: A Cross-Sectional Study
AUTHORS:
Souleymane Papa Coulibaly, Bamiki Touré, Adama A. Traoré, Idiatou Diallo, Garan Dabo, Apérou dit Eloi Dara, Kadiatou Traoré, Boubacar H. Maïga, Joseph Traoré, Mahamadou Koné, Zoua Kamaté, Housseini Dolo, Souleymane Coulibaly, Youssoufa M. Maïga
KEYWORDS:
COVID-19, Healthcare Workers, Mental Health, Mali
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Psychiatry,
Vol.16 No.2,
February
2,
2026
ABSTRACT: Introduction: The consequences of the pandemic on the mental health of healthcare professionals in West Africa, particularly in Mali, are poorly documented. This study aimed to assess the mental health status of healthcare workers in Mali during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 218 healthcare workers. Data were collected on socio-demographic characteristics, vaccination status against SARS-CoV-2, working hours, and mental health indicators (i.e., stress, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress) using validated scales. Measures of central tendency and dispersion were calculated for quantitative variables. Percentages were calculated for categorical variables. Results: The sample consisted of 55.0% male participants with an average age of 31.8 ± 7.9 years. The majority of respondents (28.4%) were health technicians or nurses. A total of 61.5% of the respondents indicated that they had received the vaccination against the novel coronavirus. Regarding workload, 50.9% of respondents reported working more than 72 hours per week. Mental health assessments revealed that 53.2% of the participants reported being able to manage stress, 3.7% perceived life as constantly under threat, and 31.2% reported a lack of well-being. The Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale indicated that 59.2% of participants exhibited symptoms of anxiety, while the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) scale indicated that 58.8% experienced elevated depressive symptoms. Additionally, the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) revealed that 98.2% of participants displayed symptoms of post-traumatic stress, with 6.4% meeting the criteria for a post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis. Conclusion: The results demonstrate the significant mental health difficulties encountered by health professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. They underscore the necessity for comprehensive support and targeted interventions to enhance the well-being of healthcare workers during public health emergencies.