COVID-19-Related Anxiety and Its Association with Dietary Diversity Score Among Health Care Professionals in Ethiopia: A Web-Based Survey

Background: The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a stressful and overwhelming situation for health care professionals (HCP), especially, who are caring for patients in the resource-limited health care settings of low-income countries Due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Ethiopia, HCPs are at risk for COVID-19-related anxiety and associated inadequate nutrition However, the magnitude of COVID-19-related anxiety and its association with dietary diversity among HCPs is not well studied Objective: To assess the magnitude of COVID-19-related anxiety and its association with dietary diversity score among health care professionals in Ethiopia Methods: A web-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among HCPs working in university hospitals, primary hospitals, and health centers in south and southwest Ethiopia A structured online survey questionnaire was designed on Google forms and carried out from May 15 to June 14, 2020 COVID-19-related anxiety was assessed using the coronavirus anxiety scale Dietary diversity was measured using 9 items individual dietary diversity score Data analysis was done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 24 Multiple logistic regression was computed to identify independent factors associated with COVID-19-related anxiety Statistical significance was set at p<0 05 Results: The prevalence of COVID-19-related anxiety among health care professionals was found to be 20 2% COVID-19-related anxiety is significantly associated with a low dietary diversity score [AOR=5 93 (1 67, 21 07)] The other factors which are independently associated with COVID-19-related anxiety are the presence of depression [AOR=6 98 (2 91-16 73)] and diploma educational status [AOR=0 16 (0 04-0 55)] Conclusion: One-fifth of the study participants were found to have probable COVID-19-related anxiety Designing a screening and intervention strategy for COVID-19-related anxiety among HCPs, particularly to those with low dietary diversity scores and depression, is recommended