Publication: Mental Health Status during COVID-19 Pandemic and its Relationship with Economic Hardship and Financial Threat among Rural Population in Sarawak, Malaysia
Date
2023
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background
During the COVID-19 pandemic, job and income loss, social isolation may aggravate
mental health, particularly among the most vulnerable groups.
Objective
To assess the current mental health situation among the rural population in
Samarahan district and determine the relationship between economic hardships,
financial threats, and mental health status.
Method
This study was a cross-sectional study conducted among the 530 households in
the Samarahan district. A multistage cluster sampling technique was used to select
the participants in this study. Data were collected by face-to-face interview using a
structured questionnaire. The mental health status was assessed by using a validated
and translated DASS-21 scale. Data analysis was done by SPSS version 27.0. A p-value
of ≤ .05 was considered statistically significant.
Result
Analysis showed that two-thirds of the respondents (66.6%) had no mental health
problem. Meanwhile, 22.4% had anxiety, 1% had depression, and 0.19% had stress.
Anxiety and depression accounted for 5.8% and stress and anxiety 1.3%. However,
2.64% had stress, anxiety, and depression. In bivariate analysis, age, monthly
income, type of job, economic hardship, and expenditure difference appeared to be
significant predictors of mental health problems (p < .05).
Conclusion
Depression, anxiety, and stress pose a significant threat to the rural population’s
health. Therefore, public health practitioners and policymakers need to address
this to minimise the pandemic’s impact on mental health and provide psychological
support, particularly among the most affected group.
KEY WORDS
Economic hardship, Financial threat, Mental health, Sarawak
Description
Amirah N, Rahman MM
Department of Community Medicine and Public Health
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia
Keywords
Economic hardship, Financial threat, Mental health, Sarawak