Association between environmental exposure in hospital settings and anxiety and depressive symptoms among healthcare workers in Cameroon: an analytical cross-sectional study

Healthcare workers operate in work environments characterized by multiple exposures that may affect their mental health. This study aimed to analyze the association between environmental exposure in hospital settings and anxiety and depressive symptoms among healthcare workers in Yaoundé, Cameroon. A descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 172 healthcare professionals working in first-level public health facilities. Data were collected between March 24 and June 3, 2023, using a self-administered questionnaire distributed both online and in paper format. Mental health was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Mental Health Continuum - Short Form (MHC-SF). Data analysis included descriptive statistics, Pearson’s chi-square test, and the estimation of prevalence ratios (PR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Most participants (84.9%) reported regular exposure to at least one environmental factor, predominantly biological (76.2%). The overall prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms was 28.0% (95% CI: 21.3-34.7), with specific prevalence of 37.2% for anxiety and 29.6% for depression. Exposed individuals showed a higher frequency of anxiety and/or depressive symptoms compared to non-exposed individuals (29.0% vs. 22.2%); however, this association was not statistically significant (PR=1.30; 95% CI: 0.61-2.75; p=0.47). In contrast, significant differences were observed across professional groups for both anxiety (p=0.017) and depression (p=0.022). These findings highlight the need to strengthen occupational risk prevention strategies and mental health promotion in hospital settings.