HIV Stigma and Nurse Job Satisfaction in Five African Countries

Abstract

This study explored the demographic and social factors, including perceived HIV stigma, that influence job satisfaction in nurses from 5 African countries. A cross-sectional survey was conducted of nurses (n = 1,384) caring for patients living with HIV infection in Lesotho, Malawi, South Africa, Swaziland, and Tanzania. Total job satisfaction in this sample was lower than 2 comparable studies in South Africa and the United Kingdom. The subscale, Personal Satisfaction, was the highest in this sample as in the other 2. Job Satisfaction scores differed significantly among the 5 countries and these differences were consistent across all subscales. A hierarchical regression demonstrated that mental and physical health, marital status, education level, urban/rural setting, and perceived HIV stigma had significant influences on job satisfaction. Perceived HIV stigma was the strongest predictor of job dissatisfaction. These findings provide new areas for intervention strategies that might enhance the work environment for nurses in these countries.

A Narrative Review of Factors Affecting Job Satisfaction among Nurses in Africa

“…South African nurses seem to have the lowest levels of satisfaction in most studies reviewed but Chirwa et al [29] found that nurses from South African and Tanzania had higher mean job satisfaction scores than those from Malawi, Swaziland, and Lesotho. The low levels of job satisfaction among public sector nurses in South Africa has been confirmed in a number of studies [30][31][32] and a survey of primary health care nurses in rural South Africa also found high turnover intentions as 51.1% planned to leave their current job within 2 years [33].…”

Impact of caring for people living with HIV on the psychosocial well-being of palliative caregivers

“…Although studies (such as Chirwa et al 2009;FredriksenGoldsen 2007;Ogińska-Bulik 2006;Van Dyk 2007) have shown dissatisfaction and dropout amongst AIDS care workers, caring for people living with HIV infection can provide significant satisfaction (Akintola 2008). Satisfaction takes the form of the caregiver's sense of doing a good deed, obtaining the patient's appreciation, or seeing improvement in the patient's condition (Moreno-Jiménez et al 2006).…”

“…Job satisfaction pertains to how employees feel about their work environment and the various aspects of their employment (Chirwa et al 2009). Such feelings could be favourable or unfavourable.…”

“…Such feelings could be favourable or unfavourable. Locke (as cited in Chirwa et al 2009Chirwa et al :1298 defined job satisfaction as 'a pleasurable or positive emotional state resulting from the appraisal of one's job experience'. Healthcare workers working with people living with HIV infection are more likely to provide better care to patients when they are satisfied with their work (Mullins 2009) and correctly equipped to deal with organisational challenges.…”

HIV/AIDS-related stigma and access to HIV treatments by people living with HIV/AIDS: A case study of selected states in North-West Nigeria

“…Several studies that addressed the issue of HIV-related stigma from different backgrounds and populations have been published [1,2,[10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][24][25][26][27]. Specifically, Ogunjuyigbe et al [2] studied issues pertaining to the attitudes of friends, relatives and neighbours to people living with HIV/AIDS and the implication this will have for infection and spread of HIV/AIDS in Lagos State, Nigeria.…”