Background: Despite an overwhelming disease burden, nursing shortages are evident in Sub-Saharan Africa, with the potential for significant healthcare crises.
Nurses face increased work demands and chronic stress due to a skilled personnel shortage, which may lead to stress. The present study aimed to examine chronic stress and its correlates among nurses in central Uganda.
Methods: The ۱۲-item Short Form Survey (SF-۱۲) for the assessment of chronic stress among nurses, a validated and standardized tool, was used in this cross-sectional study in ۲۰۲۲. For explanatory analysis, the items were combined with dichotomous variables reflecting predictors of chronic stress. These items were used to create dichotomous variables denoting frequent and demanding challenges for exploratory analysis. The relationship between the variables and high levels of chronic stress was investigated using a multivariate logistic regression model.
Results: Based on the findings, the majority, ۴۸۵ (۷۶.۰%), had chronic stress. The results indicate that the correlates of chronic stress among participants were widowhood (AOR: ۰.۰۴۰; ۹۵% CI: ۰.۰۱۳-۰.۱۲۷; P= <۰.۰۰۱), being worried about looming deadlines (aOR: ۰.۰۰۳; ۹۵% CI: ۰.۰۰۱-۰.۰۲۳; P = <۰.۰۰۱), long working hours (AOR: ۰.۲۸۳; ۹۵% CI: ۰.۱۵۹-۰.۵۰۴; p=<۰.۰۰۱), insufficient job control (AOR: ۰.۳۰۴; ۹۵% CI: ۰.۱۲۷-۰.۷۲۷; P = ۰.۰۰۷), and inadequate rewards (AOR: ۲.۵۵۴; ۹۵% CI: ۱.۱۷۰-۵.۵۷۴; P = ۰.۰۱۹).
Conclusion: According to our findings, three in four nurses in central Uganda suffer from chronic stress. This can exert a negative impact on their overall well-being and caring behaviors.
Chronic stress was associated with widowhood, a looming deadline, long working hours, insufficient job control, and inadequate rewards. It is critical to adapt interventions, such as hiring additional nurses, to reduce workload and ensure adequate rest periods.