Psycho-emotional challenges experienced by COVID-19 infected healthcare workers: A phenomenological study

Figures & data

Table 1. Demographic data of the study participants

Participant Code	Age Range	Gender	Profession	Years of Experience
Sizi	31–35	Female	Nurse	10
Vusi	36–40	Male	Nurse	10
Lizi	21–25	Female	Nurse	1
Dumo	36–40	Male	Nurse	7
Noma	31–35	Female	Nurse	7
Siboe	36–40	Female	Nurse	13
Muzi	31–35	Male	Medical doctor	8
Noe	25–30	Female	Nurse	1
Lihle	36–40	Female	Nurse	10
Thina	30–35	Female	Nurse	4

Table 2. Themes derived from the study findings

Superordinate theme	Theme	Sub-theme
Negative emotions experienced by the participant	1.1 Overwhelming stress	1.1.1 Poor communication mechanism of results 1.1.2 Self-blame in contracting the disease
	1.2 Fear and anxiety	1.2.1 Fear of dying
		1.2.2 Fear of infecting family and others
(2) Psychological distress	2.1 Uncertainty due to the disease and recovery process	2.1.1 Feeling stressed and frustrated
		2.1.2 Feeling scared, shocked, and confused
	2.2 Uncertainty due to lack of institutional support	2.2.1 Lack of support leading to frustration
(3) Psychological impact of stigma and discrimination against positive COVID-19 healthcare workers	3.1 Negative feelings as a result of stigma and discrimination	3.1.1 Rejection by colleagues
		3.1.2 Family stigmatised and discriminated against by community
		3.1.3 Fear of disclosure of positive COVID-19 results

Data availability statement

Data will be made available on reasonable request from the corresponding author.