Prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder risk post COVID-19 in 12 countries in Latin America: cross-sectional survey.

Introduction: Latin America was the region most affected by COVID-19 in the
second quarter of 2020, and consequently, the impact on mental health requires
evaluation. The aim of this study was to assess the risk of post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD) caused by bereavement due to COVID-19 in 12 countries in
Latin America.
Methods: The current study was an analytical cross-sectional study. Validated
tests were applied for PTSD, depression, anxiety, and stress (DASS-21), questions
about the respondent’s condition or their environment, and demographic
questions, as well as the length of the mourning period of suffering.
Results: The outcomes demonstrated that the PTSD risk increased for women
(p < 0.001), when a friend or acquaintance had COVID-19 (p = 0.002), when
a close relative died from COVID-19 (p = 0.010), having severe depression
(p <0.001), severe anxiety (p <0.001), severe stress (p <0.001), residing in Chile
(p <0.001), Paraguay (p <0.001), Bolivia (p <0.001), Costa Rica (p <0.001) or El
Salvador (p = 0.005). On the other hand, there was less risk of PTSD at an older
age (p <0.001) or if respondents had a sentimental partner (p = 0.025). In the
case of severe PTSD, there was a greater gender risk for women (p <0.001), a
close relative dying from COVID-19 (p = 0.017), having severe depression (p
<0.001), severe anxiety (p <0.001), severe stress (p <0.001), residing in Chile
(p <0.001), Paraguay (p <0.001), Bolivia (p <0.001) and Costa Rica (p = 0.002).
It was also observed that there was less risk of severe PTSD at an older age
demographic (p <0.001). Discussion: It can be concluded that the percentages of PTSD are high in its clinical presentation as severe, especially among Latin American women.