ObjectiveTo determine the prevalence of burnout and associated factors among nurses during COVID-19 in central Uganda.DesignA cross-sectional design.SettingNurse from one referral and four general hospitals. These were reception centres and cared for patients with COVID-19 in central Uganda.Participants395 nurses.Main outcome measuresBurnout scores.ResultsOf the total 395 participants, 65.1% (n=257) were female; 40% (n=158) had a diploma; 47.1% (n=186) were single; and 39.2% (n=155) had worked for 11–15 years. The results show that 40% (n=158), 41.77% (n=165) and 18.23% (n=77) reported high, average and low levels of burnout, respectively. The results show that the predictors of nurses’ burnout were personal protective equipment (PPE) (OR: 7.1, 95% CI 4.08 to 12.31) and increased workload (OR 4.3, 95% CI 2.43 to 7.93).ConclusionThis study of nurses working in hospitals dealing with patients with COVID-19 in central Uganda reported high rates of burnout, and it was associated with PPE and workload. Interventions like contracting new nurses to reduce workload, the WHO guidelines on PPE, adjusting working hours and ensuring hours of effective rest should be adapted.

COVID-19-related stigma is gradually becoming a global problem among COVID-19 survivors with deleterious effects on quality of life. However, this social problem has received little attention in research and policy. This study aimed at exploring the COVID-19-related stigma among survivors in Kampala, Uganda. A cross-sectional exploratory research design was used among COVID-19 survivors in Kampala district. Thirty COVID-19 survivors were examined using in-depth interviews. Data obtained were analyzed using thematic approach. The findings of study indicated that COVID-19-related stigma is prevalent. The common form of stigma was social rejection and labeling. Results showed that the survivors of COVID-19 pandemic faced social rejection and community ostracism. Based on the results, reducing stigmatization of the COVID-19 survivors is vital to control the spread of the pandemic. Thus, an all-inclusive effort is needed to address COVID-19-related stigma and its debilitating consequences by health workers and policymakers.

Methods: Participants included 395 nurses. They provided details about their demographic information. Stamm's Professional Quality of Life V-5 was used to assess the levels of compassion fatigue. Statistical analysis included Pearson's chi-square and Fischer's exact test, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression. A p-value of <.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Of the total 395 participants, 58.23% (N = 230) were female, 39.76% had a diploma, 47.09% were single, 43.54% had worked for 11-15 years, 54.94% had an exposure to COVID-19 cases and 43.54% worked for more than 10 hr a day. 49.11% had high levels of compassion fatigue. The predictors of compassion fatigue were working experience (p-value = <.001), exposure to COVID-19 (p-value = <.019), long working hours (p-value = .003) and remuneration (p-value = <.001).

Background. Burnout is a public health problem that disproportionately affects nurses in sub-Saharan Africa because of the weak health systems that create an unconducive workplace environment. In Uganda, there is limited evidence on the burden of burnout among nurses in a manner that undermine advocacy and policy formulation. We aimed to assess the level of burnout and associated factors among nurses in northern Uganda. Methods. This was a cross-sectional survey conducted among 375 randomly selected nurses from health facilities in northern Uganda. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Data analysis consisted of descriptive statistics and logistic regression at a 95% level of significance in SPSS version 25. Results. Majority of the respondents were female 56.5% ( n = 223 ). Nearly half, 49.1% ( n = 194 ) of respondents had high levels of burnout, 36.2% ( n = 143 ) reported average levels of burnout, and 14.7% ( n = 58 ) reported low levels of burnout. Factors associated with burnout were age (AOR: 2.90; 95% CI: 1.28-6.58; p = 0.011 ), social support (AOR: 0.45; 95% CI: 0.22-0.94; p = 0.033 ), healthy eating (AOR: 0.06; 95% CI: 0.02-0.22; p < 0.001 ), workload (AOR: 0.31; 95% CI: 0.14-0.68; p = 0.004 ), and management responsibilities (AOR: 3.07; 95% CI: 1.54-6.12; p = 0.001 ). Conclusion. Half of the nurses in northern Uganda experienced high levels of burnout. The Ministry of Health should consider recruiting more nurses to reduce workload and adjust working hours to prevent workplace-related burnout among nurses in the country.

Background Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the most commonly reported mental health consequence following traumatic events. However, little is known about how people with HIV cope with the PTSD burden in Lira city, northern Uganda. Materials and Methods This study was carried out in Lira District Health Centre IVs from February 10, 2022, to March 10, 2022. A facility-based cross-sectional study was employed among 390 people with HIV attending Lira Health Centre IVs. A consecutive sampling technique was used to select the sample size. Questionnaires were used to collect data. A binary logistic regression model was fitted to identify factors associated with independent variables, and AOR was employed to estimate the strength of association between independent and dependent variables. Results Results show that the estimated prevalence of PTSD was 254 (65.1%) and was higher among the females 191 (75.2%), those with no formal education 143 (56.3%), aged 40 years and above 121 (47.6%), and married 127 (50.0%). Results indicate that male respondents had a 51% reduced odds of developing PTSD burden compared to female respondents (AOR: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.30–0.81; P = 0.005). Individuals who did not use planning activities as a coping strategy had more than 2-fold increased odds of experiencing PTSD compared to those who planned activities (AOR: 2.43; 1.26–4.70; P = 0.008). Participants who did not have emotional support had close to 3-fold increased chances of developing PTSD compared to those who had emotional support (AOR: 2.94; 1.74–4.98; P ≤ 0.001). Participants who indicated they were not taking recourse to spirituality had more than 4-fold increased odds of experiencing PTSD compared to those who had spirituality (AOR: 4.40; 1.83–10.46; P = 0.001). Conclusion A considerable burden of PTSD among HIV clients attending health centre IVs in Lira District was notably higher and was associated with gender, planning activities, emotional support and spirituality. Early screening of PTSD among HIV clients is needed to alleviate the burden. There is also a need to include PTSD treatment services in the treatment programme of HIV care services in health centre IVs in Lira District.