A cross-sectional study of psychological distress among migrant workers in North Karnataka during lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 pandemic might have caused an upsurge in psychological issues in the populace. Susceptible individuals are at higher risk of developing psychological manifestations. Migrants are among one of the most susceptible groups and are at increased risk of psychiatric morbidity. Materials and Methods: All the migrants who were given shelter in the government-sponsored shelter facilities in the city of Hubli‒Dharwad during the government-declared lockdown were invited to be part of the study and were evaluated by two psychiatrists for psychiatric morbidity. Psychological distress was evaluated using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale. The data were tabulated and analyzed using the descriptive statistics, “t” test for continuous variables, and Chi-square test for categorical variables. Results: Two hundred and forty-two migrants (223 males and 19 females) were evaluated. Majority were from the southern states of India, aged 30 years or older, and were unskilled laborers. Psychological distress was present in 8.7% of the sample, mostly in migrants from the southern states. Migrant workers farther from their domicile State reported lesser distress than workers from within the Karnataka State. Psychological distress was found to be higher among older migrants more than 30 years of age, whereas younger migrants reported lower psychological distress than migrants above 30 years. Substance abuse, especially nicotine, was common and high among the majority of migrants. Conclusion: Disadvantaged populaces such as migrants, especially those who were from the same zone of origin (south) and older (more than 30 years of age), were associated with higher psychological distress. Migrants who were single, with lower education levels and lower skill levels, were associated with a present diagnosis of mental illness. Among major mental illnesses, depression was the most common diagnosis after nicotine dependence. Nicotine dependence was more prevalent than alcohol dependence. Policymakers should keep the psychological distress of such vulnerable population in mind, which can help in taking appropriate policy measures during calamities such as the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure holistic care.