Publication:

Mental health and burnout among humanitarian aid workers at Kakuma refugee camp in Turkana County, Kenya: analyzing stressors and coping mechanisms – a mixed methods study

Background Humanitarian aid workers are vital members of the health workforce in all nations globally; however, they work in extreme conditions with little to no mental health support programs. This research aimed to respond to this gap by assessing the mental health and burnout among humanitarian aid workers in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya.

Methods The study adopted a cross-sectional design combining both qualitative and quantitative methods. A sample of 129 was derived using Fisher’s exact test. Bivariate analysis was conducted to assess the objectives, and multivariate analysis was implemented on statistically significant variables (p<0.05), as well as controlling for confounders. Qualitative data was analyzed thematically.

Results The prevalence of burnout was 65.1%, depression 56%, and anxiety was 64.2%. The presence of extreme climatic conditions and poor security (AOR=2.6; 95% CI; 2.32-5.72; p=0.001) increased the odds of depression, while receiving a fair salary reduced the odds (AOR=0.5; 95% CI; 0.03-0.62; p=0.002). Perceived equal access to mental health support programs (AOR=0.5; 95% CI; 0.17-0.65; p=0.03) and awareness of such programs (AOR=0.4; 95% CI; 0.12-0.63; p=0.01) were associated with reduced odds of depression.

Conclusions The study revealed that aid workers faced significant mental health challenges arising from a combination of organizational and environmental factors. Extreme climatic conditions, poor security, and long working hours heightened psychological distress, whereas fair pay and awareness of support systems acted as protective factors. The study recommends multi-sectoral collaboration, the implementation of mental health programs within the camp, and further research to address aid workers’ needs in high-stress settings such as Kakuma Camp.