Abstract
Background: Health care is a demanding profession physically and mentally which contributes risk for mental distress. Even though it studied well in economically advanced nations, little is known among health professionals in Africa. The aim of this study was to assess prevalence and risk factors of mental distress among health professionals. Methods: This study was conducted from November 15, 2013 to December 15, 2013 at JUTH using an institution based cross-sectional study design. All health professionals (N=403) were included from various disciplines. Selfreport questionnaire (SRQ-20) was used to detect mental distress. Other structured questionnaire related to sociodemographic characteristics, burnout, work related condition, and substance use habits were used to collect data. Result: Out of the total study participants (n=334), 29.9% (n=100) of them were found to have mental distress. Prevalence of mental distress among substance user health professionals was higher compared with non-users. After adjusting for potential confounders, mental distress was 4.47 times higher among participants with high burnout score (AOR=4.47, 95%CI=2.37-8.44). Additionally, the likelihood of developing mental distress among physically and verbally abused staffs was 2.34 times higher than their counterparts. Also it was more than two times higher among health professionals reported poor prospect of promotion than those who reported good prospect of promotion. Conclusion: Identified association of work related factors with mental distress needs for immediate and far-reaching interventions of stress reduction therapy. Finding adequate prevention strategies to combat burnout seems therefore very crucial.
Highlights
Mental distress is combination of abnormal thoughts, emotions and behavior which significantly affects normal life style of individuals in areas of self-efficacy, self-autonomy, competence and the ability to realize one’s own intellectual and emotional potential [1,2].Different studies proved that the incidence and prevalence of mental disorders in the working population is getting increased in the last decades
This study aimed to assess prevalence of mental distress and associated risk factors among health professionals working in tertiary teaching hospital and to generated baseline information
Among 403 permanent employee health professionals of Jimma University teaching hospital (JUTH); 83% (n=334) of them were participated in this study
Summary
Different studies proved that the incidence and prevalence of mental disorders in the working population is getting increased in the last decades. Mental distress affects 15 up to 25 percent of working population globally [3,4]. Mental distress is contributing greater impact negatively on global economy by affecting human resource through increasing absenteeism from work, sick leave, compensations and by other different reasons [5,6]. Health care is a demanding profession physically and mentally which contributes risk for mental distress. Even though it studied well in economically advanced nations, little is known among health professionals in Africa. The aim of this study was to assess prevalence and risk factors of mental distress among health professionals
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