РАЗЛИЧИЯ В НАПРЯЖЕННОСТИ ТРУДОВОГО ПРОЦЕССА МЕЖДУ ГОРОДСКИМИ И СЕЛЬСКИМИ МЕДИЦИНСКИМИ РАБОТНИКАМИ ГАНЫ: СРАВНИТЕЛЬНЫЙ АНАЛИЗ

Abstract

Medical workers in rural and urban areas of Ghana face significant disparities in working conditions, which affect their physical, cognitive, and emotional well-being. While urban workers have access to technological tools and specialist support, their rural counterparts have limited resources, leading to increased occupational strain.
Objective – this study aimed to compare intellectual, sensory, emotional, monotony-related loads, and work schedule-related loads among medical workers in rural and urban areas of Ghana.
Methods and Materials. A comparative cross-sectional survey was conducted, involving 786 (270 rural and 516 urban) medical workers. The survey measured various aspects of work intensity and job-related stress, including intellectual, sensory, emotional, and monotony loads, as well as loads related to work schedules. Statistical analysis was performed to identify significant differences between the two groups.
Results. Rural healthcare workers reported significantly higher levels of intellectual (77.9% vs. 63.5%), sensory (69.7% vs. 59.0%), emotional (77.9% vs. 63.5%), and monotony-related (77.9% vs. 63.5%) stress compared to their urban counterparts. They also faced longer working hours, more intense shifts, and fewer breaks (69.7% vs. 59.0%). Collectively, these factors contribute to increased feelings of responsibility, emotional strain, and job dissatisfaction in rural areas.
Conclusion. Rural healthcare workers in Ghana face higher and more complex workloads due to limited resources, increased responsibility, and a lack of technical support. There is a need to develop a program of preventive measures aimed at addressing these disparities to enhance the well-being and work efficiency of rural healthcare workers.