Prevalence of Burnout Syndrome and Associated Factors Among Nurses in Mogadishu, Somalia: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study
A multicenter study of burnout among 292 nurses across five hospitals in Mogadishu, examining associated occupational, health, and psychosocial factors.
Research overview
This study estimated the prevalence of burnout syndrome and examined associated factors among nurses working across five public and private hospitals in Mogadishu, Somalia, between 1 January and 28 February 2026.
A total of 292 nurses completed an online questionnaire. Burnout was assessed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory–Human Services Survey and defined as the concurrent presence of high emotional exhaustion, high depersonalization, and low personal accomplishment.
Nearly one in five participants met the study definition of burnout. The findings support attention to workload, shift scheduling, staff support, sleep, and mental well-being. Because the study used convenience sampling and a cross-sectional design, it cannot establish cause and effect or represent all nurses in Somalia; longitudinal studies and culturally validated measures are needed.
Key findings
- Fifty-three of 292 nurses (18.2%; 95% confidence interval: 13.9–23.1%) met the study’s three-dimensional definition of burnout.
- Mixed shift schedules, longer service duration, chronic illness, and high workload were associated with burnout in the sociodemographic and occupational model.
- Depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, poor sleep quality, and job dissatisfaction were associated with burnout in a separate psychosocial model.
- More than 10 years of service had the strongest association in the occupational model (adjusted odds ratio: 3.63), while depressive symptoms had the strongest association in the psychosocial model (adjusted odds ratio: 5.85). These associations do not establish causation.
Yardimeli staff participation
This publication includes participation from a Yardimeli Specialist Hospital staff member and lists Yardimeli Specialist Hospital, Mogadishu, Somalia, as an institutional affiliation where applicable.
Citation
Haji Mohamud RY, Mohamed NA, Odawa BA, Osman Hidig MF, Aden HA, Ali AM, Orhan Z, Doğan S, Mohamud SM, Isse SA and Osman AM (2026) Prevalence of burnout syndrome and associated factors among nurses in Mogadishu, Somalia: a multicenter cross-sectional study. Front. Public Health 14:1951920. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1951920
Open-access license
© 2026 the article authors. This publication is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0). Reuse is permitted when the original authors, copyright owner, and journal publication are properly credited.