Night-shift work and sleep quality: a cross-sectional survey study among Afghan healthcare workers

Abstract

Background Sleep is a complex physiological process during which the body and mind enter a period of rest. For a healthy lifestyle, different cohort groups can be affected in different ways. One such cohort is healthcare workers (HCWs) – an unexplored group in Afghanistan. Therefore, the present study examined the association between a range of socio-demographic factors including having night shift work and sleep quality among Afghan HCWs.Methods A cross-sectional survey was administered in January 2023 among HCWs (N = 342) in the Herat province of Afghanistan. The survey examined sleep quality and its association with a range of socio-demographic factors among HCWs. Logistic regression models were used to examine the association of sleep quality with socio-demographic characteristics among HCWs.Results Of the 342 participants, 58.5% reported poor sleep quality. Married marital status, having higher number of children, not being a doctor, low economic status, working night shifts, and traumatic event occurring during past month were among the main variables associated with sleep quality among Afghan HCWs. Multiple regression analysis indicated having high income [negatively] (AOR = 4.132, p = 0.002), working night shifts [positively] (AOR = 0.288, p < 0.001), and traumatic event occurring during past month [positively] (AOR = 0.504, p = 0.007) were significantly associated with sleep quality.Conclusion The study suggests the need for Afghan health employers to create a healthy work environment that prioritizes the well-being of their employees by limiting overtime hours, providing rest breaks during long shifts, and ensuring that HCWs have access to necessary resources for coping with work-related stressors. These policies would promote the overall health and well-being of the workforce and would likely lead to better patient care outcomes.