COVID-19 Sources of Primary Care Nurses’ Work Disengagement in Malawi

Abstract

Drawing on the conservation of resources theory, the study documents sources of primary care nurses’ work disengagement in a low-income country (Malawi) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study utilized a qualitative approach that recruited 46 primary care nurses between the age of 21 to 53 years. Data were collected using in-depth telephone interviews from April 1st to May 17th, 2020. The interviews generated a total of 276 statements which were analyzed using the open and axial coding technique. Analysis of the interview statements established that sources of primary care nurses’ work disengagement in Malawi during the COVID-19 pandemic fall under three broad categories namely: threat of losing central resources; actual loss of central resources; and failure to gain central resources.  The threat of losing central resources was manifested through respondents’ anticipated family-member COVID-19 contagion and conviction about the presence of asymptomatic workmates. Actual loss of central resources manifested as work-overload, workmates COVID-19 diagnosis, and public stigmatization. Last, failure to gain central resources was evident through inadequate personal protective equipment, low professional risk allowances, and minimal government funding allocation. Findings from this study have practical significance as they reveal to hospital management which causal sources are more prevalent in underlying the work disengagement of primary care nurses. In this way, the findings can guide hospital management to focus on mitigating the most prevalent sources of work disengagement to yield a far-reaching impact in heightening primary care nurses’ work vigor, dedication, and absorption.