The Impact of Covid-19 on the African Workforce Through the Lenses of Nurses and Midwives

ABSTRACT

This chapter explored the experiences of nurses and midwives working in the frontline at Covid-19 treatment centres in Ghana. Twenty-nine nurses and midwives working in the frontline at Covid-19 treatment centres in eleven health facilities across Ghana participated in this study. Three major themes emerged related to physical, psychological, and social impacts of the pandemic on nurses and midwives. The findings established that nurses and midwives work relentlessly in the frontline, saving patients' lives at the expense of their own lives. In delivering care to Covid-19 patients, nurses, and midwives experienced physical exhaustion, were mentally stressed, isolated, experienced social stigmatisation, separation from families, and endured the pain of losing many patients, including colleagues and families. Inadequate resources and the hot climate made wearing protective clothing and equipment uncomfortable. It is expected that the findings will serve as the basis for supporting nurses and midwives' wellness in healthcare delivery. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021.