Al Zabadi Hamzeh, Alhroub Thair, Yaseen Noor, Haj-Yahya Maryam
Public Health Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine.
Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine.
Front Psychiatry. 2020 Dec 23;11:570065. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.570065. eCollection 2020.
Aggressive quarantine and lockdown measures were implemented as protective public health actions during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Assessing the psychological effects associated with these measures is an important attempt to inform local policymakers in an early stage. Yet little is known about these effects, specifically depression, among the Palestinians. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and predictors of depression among the Palestinian community during this pandemic. A cross-sectional web-based survey throughout social media (Facebook and Instagram) was carried out using an anonymous online questionnaire. The validated and standardized depression, anxiety, and stress scale (DASS) was used to measure depression severity. A snowball technique recruiting the general public living in Palestine was conducted. Data were collected between 6 and 16 April 2020, which corresponded to the middle interval of strict massive lockdown in Palestine on 22 March to 5 May 2020. Multinomial logistic regression model was developed to predict depression severity. About 2,819 respondents filled out the questionnaire. Depression prevalence was (57.5%; = 1,621). Out of them, 66% had mild/moderate severity, and 34% had severe/extremely severe degree. Depression severity was negatively associated with age {mild/moderate degree [OR (95% CI) = 0.98 (0.97-0.99)] and severe/extremely severe [OR (95% CI) = 0.96 (0.94-0.97)]} degrees compared with normal degree. Males were significantly less likely to have higher depression than females {mild/moderate degree [OR (95% CI) = 0.69 (0.57-0.85)] and severe/extremely severe [OR (95% CI) = 0.52 (0.40-0.86)]} degree. However, those who reported having inadequate food supply and lesser monthly incomes were more likely to have a higher degree of depression as compared with normal degree. Single persons were significantly more likely to have mild/moderate depression than those in a relationship [OR (95% CI) = 1.31 (1.05-1.64)]. High depression prevalence (57.5%) among the Palestinian community during the COVID-19 pandemic is a growing public health concern. It is essential to provide psychological counseling and treatment during and after the pandemic for the targeted people at high risk (young age/female gender) who were affected psychologically. Strategic long-term policy to address pandemic ramifications, including depression, by implementing comprehensive interventions taking into account socioeconomic disparities, vulnerability, and inequities, is crucial to emerge from this crisis in Palestine.
在2019冠状病毒病（COVID-19）大流行期间，积极的隔离和封锁措施作为保护性公共卫生行动得以实施。评估与这些措施相关的心理影响是在早期为地方政策制定者提供信息的一项重要尝试。然而，对于巴勒斯坦人中的这些影响，尤其是抑郁症，人们知之甚少。本研究旨在评估在此次大流行期间巴勒斯坦社区中抑郁症的患病率及预测因素。通过使用匿名在线问卷，在社交媒体（脸书和照片墙）上开展了一项基于网络的横断面调查。采用经过验证和标准化的抑郁、焦虑和压力量表（DASS）来测量抑郁严重程度。采用滚雪球技术招募居住在巴勒斯坦的普通民众。数据收集于2020年4月6日至16日，这对应于2020年3月22日至5月5日巴勒斯坦严格大规模封锁的中间时段。建立多项逻辑回归模型以预测抑郁严重程度。约2819名受访者填写了问卷。抑郁症患病率为（57.5%；n = 1621）。其中，66%为轻度/中度严重程度，34%为重度/极重度。与正常程度相比，抑郁严重程度与年龄呈负相关{轻度/中度[比值比（95%置信区间）= 0.98（0.97 - 0.99）]和重度/极重度[比值比（95%置信区间）= 0.96（0.94 - 0.97）]}。男性患抑郁症程度高于女性的可能性显著更低{轻度/中度[比值比（95%置信区间）= 0.69（0.57 - 0.85）]和重度/极重度[比值比（95%置信区间）= 0.52（0.40 - 0.86）]}。然而，那些报告食物供应不足且月收入较低的人，与正常程度相比，患抑郁症程度更高的可能性更大。单身者患轻度/中度抑郁症的可能性显著高于处于恋爱关系中的人[比值比（95%置信区间）= 1.31（1.05 - 1.64）]。在COVID-19大流行期间，巴勒斯坦社区中抑郁症的高患病率（57.5%）是一个日益严重的公共卫生问题。对于在心理上受到影响的高风险目标人群（年轻/女性），在大流行期间及之后提供心理咨询和治疗至关重要。通过实施综合干预措施来应对包括抑郁症在内的大流行后果的战略长期政策，考虑到社会经济差异、脆弱性和不平等，对于巴勒斯坦从这场危机中走出来至关重要。
