IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v21y2024i3p372-d1360343.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Wellbeing of Healthcare Workers during COVID-19 Era in Public Primary Health Facilities in Johannesburg, South Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Glory Makhado

    (Department of Public Health, School of Health Care Sciences, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria 0208, South Africa)

  • Busisiwe Ntuli

    (Department of Public Health, School of Health Care Sciences, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria 0208, South Africa)

  • Lindiwe Zungu

    (College of Graduate Studies, University of South Africa, Pretoria 0003, South Africa)

  • Ntevhe Thovhogi

    (Non-Communicable Disease Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town 7505, South Africa)

  • Peter Modupi Mphekgwana

    (Research Administration and Development, University of Limpopo, Polokwane 0727, South Africa)

  • Sogolo Lucky Lebelo

    (Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Johannesburg 1709, South Africa)

  • Sphiwe Madiba

    (Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Limpopo, Polokwane 0700, South Africa)

  • Perpetua Modjadji

    (Department of Public Health, School of Health Care Sciences, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria 0208, South Africa
    Non-Communicable Disease Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town 7505, South Africa
    Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Johannesburg 1709, South Africa)

Abstract

As the world grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers (HCWs) continued to provide uninterrupted health care service delivery; therefore, this disproportionately affected their wellbeing. Our study explored the wellbeing of HCWs during the COVID-19 era in public health facilities in the City of Johannesburg, Gauteng province, South Africa. A qualitative study was conducted among twenty (20) HCWs through face-to-face in-depth interviews (IDIs) in the form of semi-structured interviews, audiotapes, and transcribed verbatim, and thematically analyzed with NVivo version 10. The findings showed that over half of HCWs (aged between 27 and 60 years) tested positive for COVID-19. Also, one third of HCWs’ family members tested positive while some died due to COVID-19 infection. Informed by the workers’ wellbeing framework, four themes emerged with fourteen sub-themes. Firstly, unsafe work environment was characterized by human resource related challenges such as increased workload; staff shortage; insufficient resources, e.g., personal protective equipment (PPE); poor policies in terms of compensation/allowance for being infected with COVID-19; poor health services; and death of colleagues. Secondly, poor health outcomes were described as strained emotional (psychosocial distress) and physical (respiratory related conditions) wellbeing. Thirdly, home and community environments were negatively impacted by interrupted relationships with family and friends, and experiences of deaths of loved ones. Finally, HCWs engaged personal wellbeing strategies through self-motivation; staying positive; family support; and participating in resilience-promoting extra mural activities to cope during the pandemic. In conclusion, the wellbeing of HCWs was aggravated during the COVID-19 era and led to low morale and compromised healthcare quality. This study advocates for promotion of greater resilience, and psychological and physical safety of HCWs through evidence-based, multilevel-multicomponent interventions at the workplace, home, and community environments in addition to strengthening public health policies and response to future pandemics.

Suggested Citation

  • Glory Makhado & Busisiwe Ntuli & Lindiwe Zungu & Ntevhe Thovhogi & Peter Modupi Mphekgwana & Sogolo Lucky Lebelo & Sphiwe Madiba & Perpetua Modjadji, 2024. "The Wellbeing of Healthcare Workers during COVID-19 Era in Public Primary Health Facilities in Johannesburg, South Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(3), pages 1-20, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:21:y:2024:i:3:p:372-:d:1360343
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/21/3/372/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/21/3/372/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Teurai Rwafa-Ponela & Jessica Price & Athini Nyatela & Sizwe Nqakala & Atiya Mosam & Agnes Erzse & Samanta Tresha Lalla-Edward & Jennifer Hove & Kathleen Kahn & Stephen Tollman & Karen Hofman & Susan , 2022. "“We Were Afraid”: Mental Health Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Two South African Districts," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-18, July.
    2. Edith Ratshikhopha & Munyadziwa Muvhali & Nisha Naicker & Nonhlanhla Tlotleng & Waasila Jassat & Tanusha Singh, 2022. "Disease Severity and Comorbidities among Healthcare Worker COVID-19 Admissions in South Africa: A Retrospective Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-11, May.
    3. Michelle C. Engelbrecht & J. Christo Heunis & N. Gladys Kigozi, 2021. "Post-Traumatic Stress and Coping Strategies of South African Nurses during the Second Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-14, July.
    4. Lourdes Luceño-Moreno & Beatriz Talavera-Velasco & Yolanda García-Albuerne & Jesús Martín-García, 2020. "Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Levels of Resilience and Burnout in Spanish Health Personnel during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-29, July.
    5. Judith E. Arnetz & Courtney M. Goetz & Bengt B. Arnetz & Eamonn Arble, 2020. "Nurse Reports of Stressful Situations during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Qualitative Analysis of Survey Responses," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-12, November.
    6. Nayoon Lee & Hyun-Ju Lee, 2020. "South Korean Nurses’ Experiences with Patient Care at a COVID-19-Designated Hospital: Growth after the Frontline Battle against an Infectious Disease Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-22, December.
    7. Peter M. Mphekgwana & Musa E. Sono-Setati & Tania V. Mokgophi & Yehenew G. Kifle & Sphiwe Madiba & Perpetua Modjadji, 2023. "Retrospective Analysis of the Outcome of Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients with Coexisting Metabolic Syndrome and HIV Using Multinomial Logistic Regression," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(10), pages 1-15, May.
    8. Jade Sheen & Elizabeth M. Clancy & Julie Considine & Alison Dwyer & Phillip Tchernegovski & Anna Aridas & Brian En Chyi Lee & Andrea Reupert & Leanne Boyd, 2022. "“Did You Bring It Home with You?” A Qualitative Investigation of the Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Victorian Frontline Healthcare Workers and Their Families," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-20, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Bom-Mi Park & Jiyeon Jung, 2021. "Effects of the Resilience of Nurses in Long-Term Care Hospitals during on Job Stress COVID-19 Pandemic: Mediating Effects of Nursing Professionalism," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-12, September.
    2. José Ángel Martínez-López & Cristina Lázaro-Pérez & José Gómez-Galán, 2021. "Predictors of Burnout in Social Workers: The COVID-19 Pandemic as a Scenario for Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-14, May.
    3. Gemma Seda-Gombau & Juan José Montero-Alía & Eduard Moreno-Gabriel & Pere Torán-Monserrat, 2021. "Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Burnout in Primary Care Physicians in Catalonia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-12, August.
    4. Ana Magro & Aida Gutiérrez-García & Marta González-Álvarez & Mario Del Líbano, 2022. "Psychosocial Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Healthcare Professionals in Spain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-14, November.
    5. Jennifer E. Moreno-Jiménez & Luis Manuel Blanco-Donoso & Evangelia Demerouti & Sylvia Belda Hofheinz & Mario Chico-Fernández & Bernardo Moreno-Jiménez & Eva Garrosa, 2021. "The Role of Healthcare Professionals’ Passion in Predicting Secondary Traumatic Stress and Posttraumatic Growth in the Face of COVID-19: A Longitudinal Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-16, April.
    6. Nesrine Tebbeb & Fanny Villemagne & Thomas Prieur & Solène Dorier & Emmanuel Fort & Thomas Célarier & Luc Fontana & Nathalie Barth & Carole Pélissier, 2022. "COVID-19 Health Crisis Workloads and Screening for Psychological Impact in Nursing Home Staff: A Qualitative and Quantitative Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-17, March.
    7. Margaux Robert & Rebecca Shankland & Valentina A. Andreeva & Mélanie Deschasaux-Tanguy & Emmanuelle Kesse-Guyot & Alice Bellicha & Christophe Leys & Serge Hercberg & Mathilde Touvier & Sandrine Péneau, 2022. "Resilience Is Associated with Less Eating Disorder Symptoms in the NutriNet-Santé Cohort Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-14, January.
    8. Judith E. Arnetz & Eamonn Arble & Sukhesh Sudan & Bengt B. Arnetz, 2021. "Workplace Cognitive Failure among Nurses during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-15, October.
    9. Mario J. Valladares-Garrido & Luis Eduardo Zapata-Castro & Cinthia Karina Picón-Reategui & Ana Paula Mesta-Pintado & Ronald Alberto Picón-Reategui & Mariana Huaman-Garcia & César Johan Pereira-Victori, 2022. "Association between Working Time and Burnout Syndrome in Peruvian Military during the Second Epidemic Wave of COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-14, October.
    10. Young-Taek Park & JeongYun Park & Ji Soo Jeon & Young Jae Kim & Kwang Gi Kim, 2021. "Changes in Nurse Staffing Grades of Korean Hospitals during COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-11, May.
    11. Maria Rosaria Gualano & Tiziana Sinigaglia & Giuseppina Lo Moro & Stefano Rousset & Agnese Cremona & Fabrizio Bert & Roberta Siliquini, 2021. "The Burden of Burnout among Healthcare Professionals of Intensive Care Units and Emergency Departments during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-17, August.
    12. Wang Xiang & Li Chen & Qunjie Peng & Bing Wang & Xiaobing Liu, 2022. "How Effective Is a Traffic Control Policy in Blocking the Spread of COVID-19? A Case Study of Changsha, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-17, June.
    13. Elizabeth Keller & Meghan Widestrom & Jory Gould & Runcheng Fang & Kermit G. Davis & Gordon Lee Gillespie, 2022. "Examining the Impact of Stressors during COVID-19 on Emergency Department Healthcare Workers: An International Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-15, March.
    14. Georgia Libera Finstad & Gabriele Giorgi & Lucrezia Ginevra Lulli & Caterina Pandolfi & Giulia Foti & José M. León-Perez & Francisco J. Cantero-Sánchez & Nicola Mucci, 2021. "Resilience, Coping Strategies and Posttraumatic Growth in the Workplace Following COVID-19: A Narrative Review on the Positive Aspects of Trauma," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-25, September.
    15. Gabriele d’Ettorre & Giancarlo Ceccarelli & Letizia Santinelli & Paolo Vassalini & Giuseppe Pietro Innocenti & Francesco Alessandri & Alexia E. Koukopoulos & Alessandro Russo & Gabriella d’Ettorre & L, 2021. "Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms in Healthcare Workers Dealing with the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-16, January.
    16. Lee-Ling Huang & Hsin-Cheng Chung & Li-Ling Huang & Shu-Yuan Cheng & Chuan-Hsiung Lin & Te-Feng Yeh, 2023. "Mental Health of Healthcare Workers during COVID-19 Pandemic in Taiwan: The First Wave Outbreak Occurred 1 Year Later Than in Other Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-13, February.
    17. Karen Willis & Paulina Ezer & Sophie Lewis & Marie Bismark & Natasha Smallwood, 2021. "“Covid Just Amplified the Cracks of the System”: Working as a Frontline Health Worker during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-15, September.
    18. Hafsah Saeed & Ardalan Eslami & Najah T. Nassif & Ann M. Simpson & Sara Lal, 2022. "Anxiety Linked to COVID-19: A Systematic Review Comparing Anxiety Rates in Different Populations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-26, February.
    19. Elena R. Serrano-Ibáñez & Ariadna M. de la Vega-Castelo & Carmen Varela & M. Mikel Montero-Matellanes & Almudena Gómez-Pulido, 2023. "The Current Mental Health of Healthcare Workers 3 Years After the Start of the Pandemic: The Relationship Between Coping Strategies and Indices of Mental Health," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(4), pages 21582440231, October.
    20. Noluyolo Fathuse & Khumbulani W. Hlongwana & Themba G. Ginindza, 2023. "“Why Am I Even Here If I Can’t Save the Patients?”: The Frontline Healthcare Workers’ Experience of Burnout during COVID-19 Pandemic in Mthatha, South Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(8), pages 1-16, April.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:21:y:2024:i:3:p:372-:d:1360343. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.