INDIVIDUAL RELATED FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO PREVALENCE OF WORKPLACE STRESS AMONG HEALTH WORKERS OF MITYANA HOSPITAL, MITYANA DISTRICT. A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY.

Background Workplace stress has emerged as a pervasive concern in the healthcare sector, it compromises the physical and mental well-being of health workers, and undermines the quality of patient care. Stress occurs in a wide range of work circumstances but is often made worse when employees feel they have little support from supervisors and colleagues. The study aimed to assess the individual-related factors contributing to the prevalence of workplace stress among health workers at Mityana Hospital, in the Mityana district. Methodology The study adopted a cross-sectional descriptive and analytical survey design, employing a quantitative research approach. Data was collected from 36 health workers at Mityana Hospital using a semi-structured questionnaire. Respondents were selected through simple random sampling. Results Lack of family support (67%), beliefs that workplace stress is not reducible (64%), lower educational levels (58%), and insufficient training in stress management (58%), contributed to the prevalence of workplace stress. 21 (58%), held certificates, while only a few, 2 (6%), had master's degrees. 21 (58%), had never been trained in the prevention of workplace stress, while a smaller number, 15 (42%), had received such training. The majority of the respondents 24 (67%) were aged 20-30 years whereas the minority of the respondents 5 (14%) were aged 46 years and above. 22 (61%) were single whereas the diminutive of respondents 6 (17%) were divorced. Conclusion Key individual factors include the lack of family support, workers’s pervasive beliefs that workplace stress is intractable, relatively lower educational levels, and insufficient training in stress management. These elements significantly impact the stress levels experienced by the health workers at Mityana Hospital. Recommendation The Ugandan Ministry of Health (MoH) should integrate stress management training and support programs into the national curriculum for healthcare professionals.