EPIDEMIOLOGY AND HEALTH DATA INSIGHTS
Original Article
Aug 30, 2026 7 3

Workplace Stress and Mental Health Among Healthcare Workers in Abuja, Nigeria

Hameedat Titilade Sanusi 1 * ,
Rasheedah Muhammad Hamza 1,
Chukwudi Moses Ihezie 1
1 Department of Public Health, Faculty of Basic and Applied Biological Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria* Corresponding Author
Epidemiology and Health Data Insights, 2(5), 2026, ehdi053, https://doi.org/10.63946/ehdi/19205
Publication date: Aug 30, 2026
Full Text (PDF)

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Workplace stress among healthcare workers is a major occupational and public-health concern, yet post-pandemic evidence from Nigerian tertiary hospitals remains limited. This study assessed perceived stress, psychological distress and workplace stressors among healthcare workers in Abuja, Nigeria.
Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 340 clinical healthcare workers in two public tertiary hospitals. Perceived stress, psychological distress and workplace stressors were measured using validated and structured questionnaires. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Spearman correlation and the Kruskal-Wallis test.
Results: Respondents were predominantly male (57.1%) and nurses/midwives formed the largest cadre (28.2%). The mean perceived-stress score was 25.5 ± 2.88; 36.2% reported high perceived stress and 63.8% reported moderate stress. Probable psychological distress was uncommon (6.8%; mean score 18.0 ± 3.1). Lack of essential equipment or supplies was the most frequently reported stressor (82.1% sometimes/often/always; mean 1.66 ± 0.9). Perceived stress was not significantly correlated with psychological distress (Spearman correlation coefficient = -0.031, p = 0.565). Only fear of litigation was significantly associated with higher perceived stress (Spearman correlation coefficient = 0.285, p = 0.01).
Conclusion: Healthcare workers reported elevated perceived stress, with organisational and resource-related conditions frequently reported. Probable psychological distress was uncommon and was not correlated with perceived stress. Interventions should target equipment and staffing shortages, medico-legal support and staff-wellbeing systems.

KEYWORDS

Occupational Stress Health Personnel Mental Health Cross-Sectional Studies Nigeria

CITATION (Vancouver)

Sanusi HT, Hamza RM, Ihezie CM. Workplace Stress and Mental Health Among Healthcare Workers in Abuja, Nigeria. Epidemiology and Health Data Insights. 2026;2(5):ehdi053. https://doi.org/10.63946/ehdi/19205
APA
Sanusi, H. T., Hamza, R. M., & Ihezie, C. M. (2026). Workplace Stress and Mental Health Among Healthcare Workers in Abuja, Nigeria. Epidemiology and Health Data Insights, 2(5), ehdi053. https://doi.org/10.63946/ehdi/19205
Harvard
Sanusi, H. T., Hamza, R. M., and Ihezie, C. M. (2026). Workplace Stress and Mental Health Among Healthcare Workers in Abuja, Nigeria. Epidemiology and Health Data Insights, 2(5), ehdi053. https://doi.org/10.63946/ehdi/19205
AMA
Sanusi HT, Hamza RM, Ihezie CM. Workplace Stress and Mental Health Among Healthcare Workers in Abuja, Nigeria. Epidemiology and Health Data Insights. 2026;2(5), ehdi053. https://doi.org/10.63946/ehdi/19205
Chicago
Sanusi, Hameedat Titilade, Rasheedah Muhammad Hamza, and Chukwudi Moses Ihezie. "Workplace Stress and Mental Health Among Healthcare Workers in Abuja, Nigeria". Epidemiology and Health Data Insights 2026 2 no. 5 (2026): ehdi053. https://doi.org/10.63946/ehdi/19205
MLA
Sanusi, Hameedat Titilade et al. "Workplace Stress and Mental Health Among Healthcare Workers in Abuja, Nigeria". Epidemiology and Health Data Insights, vol. 2, no. 5, 2026, ehdi053. https://doi.org/10.63946/ehdi/19205

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