The COVID-19 pandemic and serious psychological consequences in Bangladesh: A population-based nationwide study

J Affect Disord. 2021 Jan 15:279:462-472. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.10.036. Epub 2020 Oct 17.

Abstract

Background: As with other countries worldwide, lockdown measures during the COVID-19 outbreak in Bangladesh were sudden and unexpected, and have the capacity to elicit serious psychological consequences. The present study examined the psychological consequences of COVID-19 in Bangladesh during the lockdown period.

Methods: A nationwide online cross-sectional survey study recruited 10,067 individuals covering all 64 districts in Bangladesh via social media (April 1-10, 2020). The survey comprised questions concerning socio-demographics, knowledge of COVID-19, behavior towards COVID-19, fear of COVID-19, insomnia, depression, and suicidal ideation. Logistic regression and structural equation modeling (SEM) analyses were performed to identify the risk factors depression and suicidal ideation. Geographical information system (GIS)-based spatial analysis was used to identify district-wise susceptibility to depression and suicidal ideation.

Findings: The prevalence rate of depression and suicidal ideation related to COVID-19 was 33% and 5%%. Common risk factors for suicidal ideation and depression included being young, being female, being a cigarette smoker, having comorbid diseases, having high scores on the Fear COVID-19 Scale, and having insomnia symptoms. GIS-based maps detected high depression and suicidal ideation in the capital of Bangladesh and the districts near the capital as well as coastal areas where COVID-19 prevalence was high, as compared with districts with no reported cases.

Limitations: Self-reported scales and cross-sectional design of the study.

Conclusion: COVID-19 is associated with major psychological impact across Bangladesh, underlining the need of strategically located psychological support measures and improved access to mental health services, especially among women and younger people.

Keywords: Bangladeshi people; COVID-19; Depression; Psychological impact; Suicidal ideation.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Anxiety / epidemiology
  • Bangladesh / epidemiology
  • COVID-19 / epidemiology*
  • COVID-19 / psychology*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Depression / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pandemics
  • Prevalence
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / epidemiology
  • Stress, Psychological / epidemiology
  • Suicidal Ideation
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Young Adult