High rates of burnout among maternal health staff at a referral hospital in Malawi: A cross-sectional study

Viva Combs Thorsen,Tarek Meguid,Andra L Teten Tharp

doi:10.1186/1472-6955-10-9

Viva Combs Thorsen, Tarek Meguid + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6955-10-9

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Abstract

BackgroundBurnout among maternal healthcare workers in sub-Saharan Africa may have a negative effect on services provided and efforts to mitigate high maternal mortality rates. In Malawi, research on burnout is limited and no empirical research has been conducted specifically among maternal health staff. Therefore, the aims of the study were to examine the prevalence and degree of burnout reported by healthcare workers who provide antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal services in a district referral hospital in Malawi; and, to explore factors that may influence the level of burnout healthcare workers experience.MethodsIn the current cross-sectional study, levels of burnout among staff working in obstetrics and gynaecology at a referral hospital in Malawi were examined, in addition to individual and job characteristics that may be associated with burnout.ResultsIn terms of the three dimensions of burnout, of the 101 participants, nearly three quarters (72%) reported emotional exhaustion, over one third (43%) reported depersonalization while almost three quarters (74%) experienced reduced personal accomplishment.ConclusionsBased on these findings, burnout appears to be common among participating maternal health staff and they experienced more burnout than their colleagues working in other medical settings and countries. Further research is needed to identify factors specific to Malawi that contribute to burnout in order to inform the development of prevention and treatment within the maternal health setting.

Highlights

Burnout among maternal healthcare workers in sub-Saharan Africa may have a negative effect on services provided and efforts to mitigate high maternal mortality rates
The current study had two aims: To examine the prevalence and degree of burnout reported by healthcare workers who provide antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal services in a district referral hospital in Malawi; and, to explore factors that may influence the level of burnout healthcare workers experience
The overtime hours were not assessed in the current study, but anecdotal reports and past research suggests that working overtime is commonplace [32]

Summary

Introduction

Burnout among maternal healthcare workers in sub-Saharan Africa may have a negative effect on services provided and efforts to mitigate high maternal mortality rates. Nursing vacancies stand at 65% [2] Working in these environments has potential for substantial workforce burnout resulting in impaired performance, negative attitudes, illness, absenteeism, and turnover [3,4,5]. The prevalence of burnout among physicians ranges from 25 to 60%, and occurs at a level sufficient to affect personal or professional performance [7,8]. When comparing nurses to physicians or other healthcare workers, nurses consistently reported higher levels of burnout [14,15]

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