Association between Shift Work, Sleep Quality, and Mental Health among Healthcare Workers in Secondary Hospitals in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Nigeria

Background: Shift work is essential for continuous healthcare delivery, but it disrupts circadian rhythms and can negatively affect sleep and mental health. In Nigeria, healthcare workers face additional systemic challenges, such as workforce shortages and high patient loads, which may exacerbate these effects. Research on the relationships between shift work, sleep disturbances, and multiple mental health indicators simultaneously in secondary healthcare settings within the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) is limited. Objective: This study examined the association between shift work status and sleep disturbances, subjective sleep quality, and selected mental health indicators, stress, burnout, anxiety, and prolonged sadness, among healthcare workers in secondary hospitals in AMAC, Nigeria. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study of 378 healthcare workers across six secondary health facilities in AMAC. Participants were selected using multistage stratified random sampling, with proportional allocation based on professional cadre. Data were collected via a structured, self-administered electronic questionnaire that assessed shift patterns, sleep disturbances, subjective sleep quality, mental health symptoms, workplace contributing factors, and job-related outcomes. We used descriptive statistics and chi-square tests to assess associations, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results: The majority of respondents (90.5%) worked shift schedules, with rotating shifts being the most common (52.4%). Sleep disturbances were prevalent, particularly non-restorative sleep (31.0%) and difficulty initiating sleep (23.5%). Self-reported stress was the most frequently reported mental health symptom (45.6%), followed by burnout (22.2%), anxiety (13.9%), and prolonged sadness (11.7%). Shift work was significantly associated with poorer subjective sleep quality (χ² = 17.65, p = 0.001) and higher stress levels (χ² = 5.90, p = 0.015). We found no significant associations between shift work and burnout, anxiety, or prolonged sadness. High workload (75.4%), long working hours (68.5%), and poor work–life balance (65.3%) were frequently cited as contributing factors. Conclusion: Shift work among healthcare workers in AMAC is significantly associated with poor sleep quality and elevated stress. However, the relationship between shift work and burnout or anxiety appears to be multifactorial. The high prevalence of sleep disturbances and psychological strain highlights the need for occupation-sensitive scheduling reforms, workload optimization, and strengthened occupational health support systems within secondary healthcare facilities.