An exploration of the experiences of South African healthcare workers practicing in the COVID-19 context.

The coronavirus disease rapidly spread worldwide placing enormous pressure on healthcare systems and healthcare workers. As the COVID-19 pandemic has progressed, research concerning the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare workers has rapidly expanded. However, the majority of these studies have been quantitative. Moreover, few studies that have been conducted within the South African context. The current study sought to address these gaps in the literature by qualitatively exploring the experiences of South African frontline healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study focused on the various intrapersonal and contextual factors that have contributed to the unique experiences and well-being of healthcare workers within the South African context. Semi-structured email facilitated qualitative interviews (EFQI) were used to explore the experiences of one general practitioner, two specialist physicians, and one nurse, who have directly cared for and treated patients with COVID-19, in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Interview transcripts were analysed using theory-driven thematic analysis, with an ecological framework providing a lens through which to view the data. The findings indicate that practising during the COVID-19 pandemic impacted on the well-being of healthcare workers. Although healthcare workers experienced significant distress, they appear to have utilised various coping strategies to manage these negative emotions. Healthcare workers also report positive experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as receiving social support and a strengthening in their relationships. Furthermore, the results of the study show that the experiences of participants were mediated by multiple factors at the various ecological levels. This study provides an in-depth understanding of the experiences of South African healthcare workers practicing during the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings contribute to the limited literature on this topic available in South Africa, and may be used to assist in the development of future crisis intervention and public policy in South Africa to protect the mental health of healthcare workers.