Browsing by Author "Shikola, Veronika Kaunalenga"

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    Exploring the factors contributing to burnout among social workers at a selected state hospital during the Covid-19 pandemic in Oshana region, Namibia
    (University of Namibia, 2025) Shikola, Veronika Kaunalenga; Kwamwanyah, Ndumba J.
    The COVID-19 pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges to healthcare and social service providers worldwide, significantly impacting their physical and mental well-being. In Namibia, social workers at a selected State Hospital in Oshana Region, Namibia have faced increased workloads, resource shortages, and emotional stress, yet limited research has focused on burnout within this key workforce. This qualitative, interpretivist study explored the factors contributing to burnout among social workers in the Oshana Region during the pandemic. Employing a census sampling of all 15 social workers at a selected State Hospital in Oshana Region, data were collected through face-to-face in-depth interviews and analysed via thematic analysis. The study identified five core factors contributing to burnout: workload and staffing challenges, emotional and psychological stressors, lack of organizational support, inadequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and resources; and constrained resilience processes shaped by personal, social, and organizational factors. The findings reveal that burnout adversely affects social workers’ mental health, job motivation, and capacity to deliver quality support, leading to increased absenteeism, staff turnover, and strained personal relationships. To address these issues, the study proposes enhancing organizational support, implementing programs that strengthen resilience processes through both individual and environmental resources, improving resource allocation, adopting flexible work arrangements, establishing peer support networks, and developing comprehensive policies aimed at burnout prevention. The insights gained aim to inform policy and practice, fostering workforce resilience, improving service quality, and safeguarding the well-being of social workers and the communities they serve in Namibia