Prevalence of depression and its impact on quality of life among Afghan healthcare workers: A cross-sectional survey study

Abstract Background According to the World Health Organization, approximately 280 million individuals worldwide suffer from depression. One occupational group that is more prone to mental health issues is healthcare workers (HCWs). However, very little is known about the mental health of HCWs in Afghanistan. Therefore, the present study estimated the prevalence of depression, quality of life (QOL) and related factors among Afghan HCWs. Methods A cross-sectional survey was administered in June 2022 to 299 healthcare workers in the Herat province of Afghanistan. The survey examined depression, its risk factors and predictors among HCWs. Results Depression was found among 73.6% of all the 299 participants. Low monthly income, working in a private hospital, and being a cigarette smoker were among the main variables associated with depression among Afghan HCWs. Multiple regression analysis indicated that field of work (OR = 095, p = .039), monthly income (OR=-.061, p < .001), job type (OR=-.194, p < .001), cigarette smoking (OR = .107, p = .014), a bad event during the past month (OR=-.122, p = .004), physical domain of quality of life (OR=-.004, p = .009), and psychological domain of quality of life (OR=-.006, p < .001) were significantly associated with depression. Conclusion The prevalence of depression is high among healthcare workers in the Herat province of Afghanistan. One of the variables found to have a major impact on the prevalence of depression was their monthly income. Considering its impact on quality of life and the overall quality of healthcare services, the government should implement regular screening for depression, psychological counselling services, and psychiatric treatment for vulnerable healthcare workers.