AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH REPERCUSSIONS OF HEALTH WORKERS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN BRAZIL

Abstract

The pandemic of COVID-19 brought several changes in the life of the population. Among the professionals who are essential to act in the pandemic context are health professionals. The pre-pandemic scientific literature points out that health care workers suffer from mental health problems related to their working conditions. In this sense, this work aims to integrate the knowledge of the scientific literature on the repercussions to mental health and coping strategies of health professionals working in health care during the pandemic of COVID-19 in Brazil in the period from 2019 to June 2021, from an integrative literature review. We included texts available in the Virtual Health Library (VHL), produced in Brazil and relevant to the theme in focus, understood from the thematic content analysis elucidated by Minayo. 548 articles were found, remaining 11 after selection. The themes were divided into two categories: 1) Impacts of the pandemic on the general population and 2) Impact of the pandemic of COVID-19 on the mental health of health workers. Resulting from the second theme, the following categories were listed: Working conditions; Professional's specificities; Fear; Change of habits; Symptoms of mental disorders; Political and economic contexts and mental health promotion (protection factors and interventions). With this study it was possible to perceive the various influences linked to the pandemic and its repercussions on the mental health of workers, as well as the need to promote mental health to this population.