Exploring healthcare providers' perceptions of mental health amid COVID-19 pandemic in obstetrics and gynaecology department of a tertiary care public sector hospital of Karachi, Pakistan: an exploratory qualitative study protocol.

INTRODUCTION

In the wake of the unprecedented public health challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is highly significant to recognise the mental health impact of this mounting threat on healthcare providers (HCPs) working in the obstetrics and gynaecology department. Experience from epidemics and emerging literature around COVID-19 show that the unparalleled amount of stress that HCPs are dealing with is linked with the increased burden of mental health conditions. We aim to conduct an exploratory qualitative descriptive study to assess HCPs' perceptions of mental health amid the COVID-19 pandemic in the obstetrics and gynaecology department of a public sector tertiary care hospital of Karachi, Pakistan.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This study will use a qualitative descriptive approach where approximately 20-25 HCPs from the obstetrics and gynaecology department will be recruited using a purposive sampling approach. Data will be collected through semistructured interviews and it will be analysed thematically using NVivo V.12 Plus software.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical approval for this study has been obtained from the Institutional Review Board Committee of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center hospital. The study results will be disseminated to the scientific community and the HCPs participating in the study. The findings will help us to explore the doctor's perceptions of mental health during the current pandemic of COVID-19 and its impact on their daily lives and mental well-being.