Evaluating the quality of work life and associated factors among nurses in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta- analysis

Quality of work life (QWL) describes how well members of an organization can meet their personal needs through their work experiences. For healthcare organizations, maintaining a high QWL is essential to attract, retain, and motivate qualified and dedicated employees, which in turn enhances task performance. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess QWL and its associated factors among nurses in Ethiopia. The databases PubMed, Hinari, African Journals Online, and Google Scholar were searched for original studies published up to August 2024. Cross-sectional studies assessing the QWL among nurses in Ethiopia and published in peer-reviewed journals in English were included. Two independent reviewers completed the study selection, quality assessment, and data extraction. The Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklist was used for quality assessment. A random-effects model was used to estimate the pooled mean and prevalence of QWL and associated factors, with heterogeneity assessed using I² test statistics. Out of 161 studies screened, six studies with a total of 1,958 participants were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Quality of work life score and the prevalence of good QWL were low among nurses working in Ethiopia. The meta-regression analysis yielded inconclusive results regarding factors associated with poor QWL, primarily due to the limited number of studies included. QWL among Ethiopian nurses is considerably low. Enhancing their salaries and educational status, along with ensuring a secure working environment, could improve their professional quality of life and, consequently, overall health delivery. Not applicable.