Factors Associated With Experiences of Fear, Anxiety, Depression, and Changes in Sleep Pattern During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Adults in Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Study

• Published in: Frontiers in public health Vol. 10; p. 779498
• Main Authors: Folayan, Morenike Oluwatoyin, Ibigbami, Olanrewaju, Brown, Brandon, El Tantawi, Maha, Aly, Nourhan M, Ezechi, Oliver C, Abeldaño, Giuliana Florencia, Ara, Eshrat, Ayanore, Martin Amogre, Ellakany, Passent, Gaffar, Balgis, Al-Khanati, Nuraldeen Maher, Idigbe, Ifeoma, Jafer, Mohammed, Khan, Abeedha Tu-Allah, Khalid, Zumama, Lawal, Folake Barakat, Lusher, Joanne, Nzimande, Ntombifuthi P, Popoola, Bamidele Olubukola, Quadri, Mir Faeq Ali, Roque, Mark, Al-Tammemi, Ala'a B, Yousaf, Muhammad Abrar, Virtanen, Jorma I, Zuñiga, Roberto Ariel Abeldaño, Ndembi, Nicaise, Nkengasong, John N, Nguyen, Annie Lu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 02-03-2022
• Subjects: Adult; Anxiety - epidemiology; Anxiety - psychology; COVID-19; COVID-19 - epidemiology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression - epidemiology; Depression - psychology; Fear; HIV; HIV Infections - complications; HIV Infections - epidemiology; Humans; mental distress; mental health; Nigeria; Nigeria - epidemiology; Pandemics; Public Health; SARS-CoV-2; Sleep; Nigeria; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; mental distress; HIV; Nigeria; mental health
• ISSN: 2296-2565; 2296-2565
• DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.779498

Multiple facets of the pandemic can be a source of fear, depression, anxiety and can cause changes in sleep patterns. The aim of this study was to identify health profiles and the COVID-19 pandemic related factors associated with fear, depression, anxiety and changes in sleep pattern in adults in Nigeria.
The data for this analysis was extracted from a cross-sectional online survey that collected information about mental health and well-ness from a convenience sample of adults 18 years and above resident in Nigeria from July to December 2020. Study participants were asked to complete an anonymous, closed-ended online questionnaire that solicited information on sociodemographic profile, health profiles (high, moderate and low COVID-19 infection risk profile) including HIV status, COVID-19 status, and self-reported experiences of fear, anxiety, depression and changes in sleep patterns.
In total, 4,439 participants with mean age of 38.3 (±11.6) years responded to the survey. Factors associated with higher odds of having COVID-19 related fear were health risk (
< 0.05); living with HIV (AOR: 3.88; 95% CI: 3.22-4.69); having COVID-19 symptoms but not tested (AOR: 1.61; 95% CI: 1.30-1.99); having a friend who tested positive to COVID-19 (AOR: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.07-1.53) and knowing someone who died from COVID-19 (AOR: 1.43; 95% CI: 1.24-1.65). The odds of feeling anxious was significantly higher for those with moderate or low health risk profile (
< 0.05); living with HIV (AOR: 1.64; 95% CI: 1.32-2.04); had a friend who tested positive for COVID-19 (AOR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.08-1.68) or knew someone who died from COVID-19 (AOR: 1.53; 95% CI: 1.28-1.84). The odds of feeling depressed was significantly higher for those with health risk profile (
< 0.05); living with HIV (AOR: 2.49; 95% CI: 1.89-3.28); and respondents who had COVID-19 symptoms but had not taken a test (AOR: 1.41; 95% CI: 1.02-1.94). Factors associated with higher odds of having sleep pattern changes were having moderate and low health risk profiles (
< 0.05).
The study findings suggest that the pandemic may cause fear, anxiety, depression and changes in sleep patterns differently for people with different health profile, HIV status and COVID-19 status.