Occupational Stress Aamong Nurses in Ghana: A Comparative Study Between Government and Private Hospitals in the Ashanti Region.

Abstract

Occupational stress is a major challenge in nursing, negatively affecting nurses’ health, job satisfaction, and the quality of patient care. In Ghana, systemic healthcare challenges such as understaffing, inadequate resources, and poor institutional support exacerbate stress levels among nurses. Limited research has compared occupational stress between government and private hospitals, where working conditions differ significantly. This study conducted a comparative analysis of occupational stress among nurses in government and private hospitals in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, identifying levels, predictors, effects, and coping strategies. A hospital-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among 375 nurses, selected through multi-stage sampling. Data were collected using structured questionnaires covering demographic data, stress levels, influencing factors, effects, and coping mechanisms. Data were analysed with SPSS version 27.0 using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests and logistic regression. High occupational stress was reported by 51.2% of nurses, with stress levels significantly higher in government hospitals compared to private hospitals [AOR=2.43 (0.486–0.99), p=0.039]. Marital status, age, rank, and years of experience were significantly associated with stress levels. Key stressors included heavy workload (69.6%), inadequate resources (61.1%), lack of overtime pay (61.6%), and unsatisfactory salaries (64.3%). Nurses in government hospitals were twice as likely to report reduced patient care attitudes [AOR=1.78 (1.06–3.00), p=0.030]. Emotional stressors such as patient deaths were reported by 81.1% of nurses. Recognition for good work and payment for overtime were protective factors against stress [AOR=0.57, p=0.042; AOR=0.46, p=0.033]. Nurses adopted coping strategies such as time management, hobbies, and peer support. To mitigate stress, hospital management and policymakers should strengthen support systems, ensure fair remuneration, recognize nurses’ efforts, and enforce adequate staffing and resource.