The influence of provider stress on poor PCMC cannot be overemphasized given the large body of evidence showing that prolonged stress without adequate coping mechanisms leads to burnout, which manifests as overwhelming exhaustion, feelings of cynicism and detachment from the job, lower productivity and effectiveness, decreased job satisfaction, and reduced commitment to the job. These effects on the provider translate to poor attitudes towards patients and poor care provision with risks to patient safety. Our team conducts research on provider experience including provider, stress, burnout, satisfaction, and preparedness.
Publications:
Afulani PA, Ongeri L, Kinyua J, Temmerman M, Mendes WB, Weiss SJ. Psychological and physiological stress and burnout among maternity providers in a rural county in Kenya: individual and situational predictors. BMC Public Health. 2021 Mar 6;21(1):453. doi: 10.1186/s12889-021-10453-0. PMID: 33676479; PMCID: PMC7936594.
Nutor, J. J., Aborigo, R. A., Okiring, J., Kuwolamo, I., Dorzie, J. B. K., Getahun, M., Mendes, W. B., & Afulani, P. A. (2022). Individual and situational predictors of psychological and physiological stress and burnout among maternity providers in Northern Ghana. PLOS ONE, 17(12), e0278457. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0278457
Getahun M, Oboke EN, Ogolla BA, Kinyua J, Ongeri L, Sterling M, Oluoch I, Lyndon A, Afulani PA. Sources of stress and coping mechanisms: Experiences of maternal health care providers in Western Kenya. PLOS Global Public Health. 2023;3:e0001341. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001341.
Afulani PA, Nutor JJ, Agbadi P, et al. Job satisfaction among healthcare workers in Ghana and Kenya during the COVID-19 pandemic: Role of perceived preparedness, stress, and burnout. PLOS Glob Public Health. 2021;1(10):e0000022. doi:10.1371/journal.pgph.0000022
Afulani PA, Gyamerah AO, Nutor JJ, et al. Inadequate preparedness for response to COVID-19 is associated with stress and burnout among healthcare workers in Ghana. PLoS One. 2021;16(4):e0250294. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0250294
Afulani PA, Gyamerah AO, Aborigo RA, Nutor JJ, Malechi H, Laar A, M. Sterling, J.K. Awoonor-Williams. Perceived preparedness to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic: a study with healthcare workers in Ghana. Journal of Global Health Science. 2020;2. doi:10.35500/jghs.2020.2.e24.