AUTHOR=Alam Md. Dhedharul , Islam Asraful , Hossain Md. Sanwar , Hossain Afsana , Akhter Delara , Haider Md. Masum , Xu Yi 

TITLE=Mental health outcomes and associated factors among vaccinated and unvaccinated teachers against COVID-19 infection in Bangladesh

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychiatry

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.896419

DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2022.896419

ISSN=1664-0640

ABSTRACT=Background: Vaccination of teachers is recommended during the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce the risk of infection for themselves and their students, as well as to encourage their parents to get immunized. The present study investigated the mental health outcomes and associated factors among vaccinated and unvaccinated teachers against COVID-19 infection in Bangladesh. 
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Bangladesh from March 4 to September 9, 2021. The frequency of symptoms of psychological distress, depression, anxiety, stress, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), insomnia, and fear was assessed using the Bangla versions of the GHQ-12, PHQ-2, GAD-2, PSS-4, PC-PTSD-5, ISI, and FCV-19S scales, respectively. 
Results: A total of 1,527 Bangladeshi teachers completed the questionnaire, with 678 (44.4%) being vaccinated and 849 (55.6%) being unvaccinated. Compared with unvaccinated teachers, vaccinated teachers had a statistically significant lower prevalence of psychological distress (35.8 vs. 42.9%), depression (37.6 vs. 46.4%), anxiety (31.9 vs. 45.1%), stress (18.3 vs. 32.0%), PTSD (33.0 vs. 43.8%), insomnia (25.2 vs. 36.9%), and fear symptoms (23.3 vs. 29.6%). Among vaccinated teachers, participants with masters or lower degree levels were significantly more likely to experience symptoms of depression, stress, and fear. Respondents with children had a significantly higher risk of depression, anxiety, stress, and fear symptoms. Respondents who lost family members, friends, or colleagues due to the COVID-19 pandemic had a significantly higher chance of experiencing symptoms of anxiety, PTSD, and fear. On the other hand, unvaccinated male teachers were significantly associated with a higher risk of all mental health outcomes except psychological distress and PTSD symptoms. Participants who were smokers had a significantly higher chance of anxiety, stress, and fear symptoms. Except for PTSD symptoms, respondents with poor social support had a higher risk of all the mental health outcomes.
Conclusions: This study suggests emphasizing the vaccinated to unvaccinated teachers as soon as possible to control the infection and improve mental health outcomes. They also required special attention, health-related education, and psychological support.