Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38905176›Full record

ArticlePLOS global public health2024

A systematic review and meta-analysis of compassion fatigue among healthcare professionals before and during COVID-19 in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Amir Kabunga, Eustes Kigongo, Raymond Tumwesigye, Samson Udho, Marvin Musinguzi, Walter Acup, Anna Grace Auma, Anne Ruth Akello, Ponsiano Okalo, Jannat Nabaziwa and 1 more

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In one paragraph

Article in PLOS global public health, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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  3. Pooled it
  4. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Amir KabungaDepartment of Psychiatry, Lira University, Lira City, Uganda.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0481-2220
Eustes KigongoDepartment of Environmental Health and Disease Control, Lira University, Lira City, Uganda.
Raymond TumwesigyeDepartment of Nursing, Lira University, Lira City, Uganda.
Samson UdhoDepartment of Nursing, Lira University, Lira City, Uganda.
Marvin MusinguziDepartment of Community Health, Lira University, Lira City, Uganda.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8876-5216
Walter AcupDepartment of Community Health, Lira University, Lira City, Uganda.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6222-3598
Anna Grace AumaDepartment of Nursing, Lira University, Lira City, Uganda.
Anne Ruth AkelloDepartment of Environmental Health and Disease Control, Lira University, Lira City, Uganda.
Ponsiano OkaloDepartment of Psychiatry, Lira University, Lira City, Uganda.
Jannat NabaziwaDepartment of Community Health, Lira University, Lira City, Uganda.
Enos Mwirotsi ShikangaDepartment of Education Psychology, Moi University, Eldoret City, Kenya.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Compassion fatigue is a significant concern globally, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated existing challenges, placing unprecedented strain on healthcare professionals. This study systematically estimated the prevalence of compassion fatigue among healthcare professionals before and during COVID-19 in Sub-Saharan Africa. A systematic review was conducted using keywords in PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and grey literature, covering all literature published between 2012 and December 30, 2023. The search team independently conducted study selection, quality assessments, data extractions, and analysis of all included studies. The systematic review, reported following PRISMA guidelines, included 11 studies. The results show that the pooled overall prevalence of compassion fatigue in Sub-Saharan Africa was 70% (95% CI: 57-82, I2 = 88.37%). The highest prevalence was found in Eastern Africa at 74% (95% CI: 55-93, I2 = 94.40%), compared to 64% in Southern Africa (95% CI: 49-79, I2 = 59.01%). Nurses reported the highest rates of compassion fatigue at 80% (95% CI: 57-100, I2 = 34.77%), followed by general healthcare professionals at 59% (95% CI: 22-97, I2 = 94.11%) and nursing students at 50% (95% CI: 35-64, I2 = 0.00%). Before COVID-19, the overall prevalence of compassion fatigue was 66% (95% CI: 41-91, I2 = 27%). During COVID-19, this increased to 74% (95% CI: 63-85, I2 = 88.73%). Our results indicate that nearly 3 in 4 healthcare professionals in Sub-Saharan Africa experience compassion fatigue, and this prevalence increased due to the pandemic. The high prevalence underscores the importance of addressing and mitigating compassion fatigue to support the mental health and emotional well-being of healthcare professionals dedicated to helping others in challenging circumstances. Systematic registration: PROSPERO. REG No: CRD42023449462.

Identifiers

PMID38905176
PMCPMC11192372

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.