Challenges faced by Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Tanzania: Evidence from Muhimbili National Hospital.

Oraity, Oraity Shomari (2023) Challenges faced by Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Tanzania: Evidence from Muhimbili National Hospital. Masters thesis, The Open University of Tanzania.

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Abstract

The study sought to assess the challenges faced by Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Tanzania at Muhimbili National Hospital. With specific objectives that to assess the practices applied, to determine the occupational challenges and to evaluate the psychological challenges faced by health workers during theCOVID-19 pandemic.The study follows Callista Roy's Adaptation Model of Nursing (RAM), which states that people are constantly adapting to changes in their environment. Roy's Adaptation Model let researcher systematically examine healthcare professionals' occupational and psychological challenges. The model considers how biological, psychological, and social factors affect individual change adaptation. The study adopted a descriptive research design and A mixed-methods approach to acquire data from MNH healthcare workers. Qualitative data was collected via interviews and quantitative data through questionnaires.The study found that healthcare workers assisted COVID-19 patients by monitoring and evaluating them, working closely with other professionals, preventing complicationsand staying update on scientific evidence. The study found 94% agreed on the statement that health workers had knowledge related to combating pandemic diseases. Also, the study found that 84.7% of healthcare workers faced psychological challenges and had poor morale. They experienced high workloads, lack of allowances and encouragement from authorities, limited equipment for treatment and diagnostics, and poor training. Study also indicated that occupational and psychological challenges had a impact on the quality of care provided to COVID-19 patients. These challenges caused healthcare workers to deliver less compassionate treatment and be less attentive to patient demands. The, study recommends that health authorities should proactively plan to encourage and compensate healthcare workers for participating in future pandemics, such as COVID-19 strains and comparable outbreaks. Rewards like official public recognition or bonuses can help to overcome those challenges. Keywords: Covid-19, Practical Challenges, Occupation Challenges, Psychological Challenges, Community Healthcare workers, Muhimbili National Hospital.

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