Prevalence and factors related to psychological distress among Ebola survivors and healthcare workers in the Eastern DR Congo.

This article examines for the first-time prevalence and factors associated with psychological distress among Ebola survivors and healthcare workers (HCWs). A representative sample of 563 participants completed the survey (309 survivors; 202 HCWs; 52 survivors/HCWs). Prevalence of psychological distress was higher among survivors (85.25 %) compared to HCWs (51.24 %), and combined group (73.08 %), χ2=69.32, p<.001. Logistic regression models showed that COVID-19 (OR=1.02, 95 %CI: [1.01-1.03], p=.005) and Ebola stigmatization (OR=1.06, 95 %CI: [1.04-1.07], p<.001) were the most important predictors of psychological distress. Significant main effects of social support (B=-.05, p=.001) was observed. This study shows the need of implementing culturally adapted trauma-informed prevention and intervention programs among survivors and HCWs.