Keyword: Nigeria

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.

ABSTRACT: In Nigeria, typhoid fever and malaria continue to be the leading causes of feverish sick ness, particularly in children and pregnant women. Accurate diagnosis is difficult in loca tions with limited resources since both diseases are endemic and feature overlapping symptoms, such as high fever, malaise, and gastrointestinal distress. Frequent misdiagno sis is a result of this diagnostic overlap as well as systemic healthcare flaws such the Widal test's dependence, the varied sensitivity of malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), and in adequate laboratory equipment. Traditional beliefs and self-medication are examples of community-level influences that also contribute. These difficulties lead to improper ad ministration of antibiotics, delays in treatment, and higher mortality, especially among vulnerable populations. The epidemiology, clinical overlap, and diagnostic difficulties of typhoid fever and malaria in Nigeria are summarized in this article. It draws attention to the negative effects of incorrect diagnosis, such as treatment failure, antibiotic resistance, and poor maternal-child health outcomes. The report urges system-wide changes, public education, better healthcare worker training, and enhanced diagnostics such multiplex as says and more precise RDTs. Investing in water and sanitation infrastructure, regulating unlicensed healthcare practitioners, and improving surveillance systems are some of the main proposals. Reducing diagnostic ambiguity, enhancing clinical results, and safeguard ing high-risk groups all depend on filling these gaps.