Job satisfaction among healthcare workers in Ghana and Kenya during the COVID-19 pandemic: Role of perceived preparedness, stress, and burnout.

Patience A Afulani,John Koku Awoonor-Williams,Monica Getahun,Joseph Musana,Benedicta Arhinful,Moses Obimbo Madadi,Jerry John Nutor,Akua O Gyamerah,Pascal Agbadi,Linnet Ongeri,Ann Marie Kelly,Osamuedeme Odiase,Hawa Malechi,Raymond A Aborigo,Kathleen Bachynski

doi:10.1371/journal.pgph.0000022

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected job satisfaction among healthcare workers; yet this has not been empirically examined in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We addressed this gap by examining job satisfaction and associated factors among healthcare workers in Ghana and Kenya during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a cross-sectional study with healthcare workers (N = 1012). The two phased data collection included: (1) survey data collected in Ghana from April 17 to May 31, 2020, and (2) survey data collected in Ghana and Kenya from November 9, 2020, to March 8, 2021. We utilized a quantitative measure of job satisfaction, as well as validated psychosocial measures of perceived preparedness, stress, and burnout; and conducted descriptive, bivariable, and multivariable analysis using ordered logistic regression. We found high levels of job dissatisfaction (38.1%), low perceived preparedness (62.2%), stress (70.5%), and burnout (69.4%) among providers. High perceived preparedness was positively associated with higher job satisfaction (adjusted proportional odds ratio (APOR) = 2.83, CI [1.66,4.84]); while high stress and burnout were associated with lower job satisfaction (APOR = 0.18, CI [0.09,0.37] and APOR = 0.38, CI [0.252,0.583] for high stress and burnout respectively). Other factors positively associated with job satisfaction included prior job satisfaction, perceived appreciation from management, and perceived communication from management. Fear of infection was negatively associated with job satisfaction. The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted job satisfaction among healthcare workers. Inadequate preparedness, stress, and burnout are significant contributing factors. Given the already strained healthcare system and low morale among healthcare workers in SSA, efforts are needed to increase preparedness, better manage stress and burnout, and improve job satisfaction, especially during the pandemic.

Highlights

Healthcare workers (HCWs) are facing unprecedented professional challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic [1,2,3]
Healthcare workers in Ghana were more likely to be dissatisfied with their jobs during the early phase of the pandemic (8.8% were very dissatisfied and 34.7% were dissatisfied in Phase 1 data collection) compared to the later phases (4.2% were very dissatisfied, and 28.7% were dissatisfied in Phase 2)
Many HCWs in Ghana and Kenya are dissatisfied with their jobs and this has increased with the COVID-19 pandemic

Summary

Introduction

Healthcare workers (HCWs) are facing unprecedented professional challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic [1,2,3]. Since the beginning of the pandemic, numerous studies have documented prevalent anxiety, depression, and distress among frontline HCWs. a very limited number of studies have examined the ways in which job satisfaction has been impacted. The findings are very clear: HCWs worldwide are largely dissatisfied with their jobs in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic [1,2,3]. Job satisfaction has been shown to impact performance, commitment, absenteeism, retention, and turnover rates [6,7,8,9,10]. It has a bidirectional relationship with stress and burnout [11, 12]. Among HCWs, job satisfaction has important implications for quality of care and health outcomes [11,12,13,14]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion