Burnout Status at Work among Health Care Professionals in aTertiary Hospital

Background: Burnout is a physical, physiological and psychological stress reaction syndrome Caused by long-term exposure to intense work-related emotional and interpersonal pressures. There is no evidence on the issue in Ethiopian setting.Methods: An institution based cross-sectional study design was conducted on 403 health care providers. Burnout was detected using Copenhagen’s burnout inventory tool. Other structured questionnaire on work-related condition and substance use habits was used to collect data. Binary logistic regression was used to identify the associated factors of burnout at work.Result: Of all the study participants, 36.7% scored above the mean level of burnout. Highest prevalence (82.8%) of burnout status was found among nurses. The least prevalence of burnout was observed among laboratory technicians which was 2.8% (n=4). Job insecurity, history of physical illness, low interest in profession, poor relationship status with managers, worry of contracting infection or illness and physical/verbal abuse were found to be predictors of burnout.Conclusion: The prevalence of burnout at work was found to be high. The predictors were job insecurity, history of physical illness, low interest in profession, poor relationship status with managers, worry of contracting infection or illness and physical/verbal abuse.Keywords: Burnout, Health professionals, Occupational health, Work related factor

Mental distress and associated factors among undergraduate students at the University of Hargeisa, Somaliland: a cross-sectional study

Background: Mental distress is a common finding among University students. Empirical research has confirmed that the University student population has a higher prevalence of mental disorder than the general population. However, no previous study has examined the mental health conditions of students in Somaliland. Methods: An institution based cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 570 undergraduate students at the University of Hargeisa in October, 2013. Study subjects were selected using a stratified random sampling. The Self-reporting questionnaire (SRQ-20) was used to assess mental distress. Multiple logistic regression analysis was carried out to identify factors independently associated with mental distress. Results: The point prevalence of mental distress was found to be 19.8%. Mental distress was associated with being female (AOR = 3.52, 95% CI 1.94, 6.39), having a monthly income of 100 United States dollars (USD) or less (AOR = 2.19, 95% CI 1.12, 4.28), and not having a satisfying relationship with the family (AOR = 11.52, 95% CI 3.18, 41.72) and friends (AOR = 7.33, 95% CI 2.83, 18.93). Nearly one in five students (18.6%) has been using Khat in the previous 12 months. Khat use was also associated with greater likelihood of mental distress (AOR = 2.87, 95% CI 1.26, 6.56). In addition, financial difficulties and the poor prospect of finding a job were common sources of stress among the students. Conclusions: A significant proportion of the students at the University of Hargeisa suffer from mental distress which might have a detrimental effect on their academic performance. The mental health needs of the University students require attention with special emphasis on female students, students experiencing financial hardships, students who use Khat and those who have interpersonal problems

Fistula in War-Torn Tigray: A Call to Action

Fistula is roaring in the ongoing war on Tigray. The potential risk factors for fistula in the conflict zone include obstructed labour due to limited or absent maternal care services, a correlation between malnutrition-stunted growth and birth difficulties and trauma, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) due to conflict-related sexual violence. As a call to action to mitigate the unimaginable suffering that women and girls are facing in the region, concerted international effort is needed to provide treatment, rehabilitation, and re-integration; secure peace and stability; rebuild the health-care system; and ensure perpetrators are held accountable