Burnout Syndrome Among Community Health Extension Workers in Sokoto State, North West Nigeria

Community health extension workers (CHEWs) form the backbone of Nigeria's primary healthcare system, yet they are frequently exposed to conditions that predispose them to occupational burnout. This study examines the prevalence and determinants of burnout syndrome among CHEWs in Sokoto State, North West Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional survey will enroll 200 CHEWs from 40 primary healthcare centers across four local government areas through multistage sampling. The Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) will be used to measure emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment. Data on workload, supervision quality, salary satisfaction, years in service, and access to in-service training will be collected. Univariate and multivariate analyses will identify independent predictors of burnout. Recent studies from Northern Nigeria document high burnout rates among frontline health workers, often driven by inadequate resources and poor management support. Findings from this study will inform human resource policies, supervisory practices, and mental health support programs for primary healthcare workers in the North West zone. Keywords: burnout, community health workers, Sokoto State, Maslach Burnout Inventory, primary healthcare