AUTHOR=Mahfouz Mohamed Salih , Osman Sara Amir , Mohamed Badreldin Abdelrhman , Saeed Esra Ali Mahjoub , Ismaeil Mohajer Ibrahim Hassan , Elkhider Rafiaa Ali Abdalla , Orsud Merdi Ahmed 

TITLE=Healthcare Professionals’ Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Sudan: A Cross-Sectional Survey Assessing Quality of Life, Mental Health, and Work-Life-Balance

JOURNAL=International Journal of Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 68 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/international-journal-of-public-health/articles/10.3389/ijph.2023.1605991

DOI=10.3389/ijph.2023.1605991

ISSN=1661-8564

ABSTRACT=Objectives 
The main objective of this research was to investigate the Work-life balance (WLB), mental health, and quality of life and their associated factors among Health Care Healthcare Professionals (HCPs) in Sudan during the peak of COVID-19 pandemic. 
Methods
A web-based survey was conducted during August-December 2021 among 430  HCPs  working in the hospitals of four Sudanese states. The study used the WHOQoLBREF scale, Work-Life Balance Scale, and General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7). 
Results 
HCPs with poor quality of life were 33.5% (95% CI 29.1–38.0), while those reporting worth WLB were 52.6% (95% CI 47.8–57.2). HCPs reported moderate to severe anxiety symptoms accounted for 35.8% (95% CI 31.4-40.5). The Multiple Regression model indicated that an increase in the anxiety scores is associated with a decrease in the HRQoL (β= 0.831, p<0.05). Female HCPs exhibited 4.53-fold lower HRQoL scores than the males (p<0.05).
Conclusion 
One-third of the HCPs in Sudan reported HRQol, while large segments lived unequal life-work balance. Health policy addressing these factors are needed to improve the quality of health of the HCPs.