Prevalence and Correlates of Burnout Among Social Workers in Child Protection Services in Kaduna State, North West Nigeria

Social workers in child protection services are exposed to secondary traumatic stress, high caseloads, and moral distress, creating significant vulnerability to burnout in under-resourced systems. This study examines the prevalence and determinants of burnout among social workers employed in child protection agencies in Kaduna State, North West Nigeria. A cross-sectional descriptive design will recruit 110 social workers from state and federal child protection agencies through total enumeration. The Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) will measure emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment. Supervisory support, caseload size, training adequacy, and compassion satisfaction scores from the Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL) will serve as predictor variables. Multiple regression analysis will identify independent determinants of burnout. Literature from sub-Saharan Africa documents alarmingly high burnout rates among child welfare workers, often leading to staff turnover and system dysfunction. This study will generate evidence for occupational mental health programming and workforce development within Kaduna State's child protection sector. Keywords: burnout, social workers, child protection, Kaduna State, occupational mental health