Sleep-related problems and associated factors among healthcare professionals and related healthcare workers in Bangladesh: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Sleep-related problems are common among adults worldwide, although prevalence varies considerably across populations, settings, and assessment methods. Poor sleep is linked to burnout, medical errors, and adverse mental health. However, no pooled evidence quantifies this burden among Bangladeshi healthcare personnel, prompting this study to estimate the prevalence of sleep problems and associated factors. Methods We searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, EMBASE, PsycInfo, ProQuest Medical, CINHAL, Google Scholar, and BanglaJOL from inception to April 30, 2026, for observational studies on sleep-related problems among Bangladeshi healthcare professionals. Two reviewers independently screened and extracted data, using JBI tools for quality appraisal. A narrative synthesis and random-effects meta-analysis (REML) were performed to estimate pooled prevalence and associated factors, with heterogeneity, sensitivity, and subgroup analyses conducted using R (v4.3.2) and GraphPad Prism (v9.0.2) software. Results Fifteen cross-sectional studies, involving 6,586 healthcare professionals (50.4% female), were included. The overall pooled prevalence of sleep-related problems among healthcare professionals was 38% (95% CI: 26% to 51%, I²=97.8%, p<0.0001). Prevalence varied across occupational subgroups, with physicians having an estimated prevalence of 29% (95% CI: 22% to 36%). Studies from the first six months of 2020 reported a prevalence of 31% (95% CI: 22% to 40%). Meta-regression analysis found no significant correlates (p > 0.05). Female sex (vs. male; OR = 1.64, 95% CI: 1.26 to 2.13), low economic status (vs. high economic status; OR = 3.13, 95% CI: 1.87 to 5.25), and depression (vs. no depression; OR = 6.07, 95% CI: 3.06 to 12.06) were significantly associated with sleep problems. Although higher odds were observed among physicians (vs. other healthcare professionals; OR = 1.48, 95% CI: 0.41 to 5.30), individuals residing in rural areas (vs. urban; OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 0.13 to 10.11), and those with anxiety (vs. no anxiety; OR = 3.42, 95% CI: 0.97 to 12.11) also showed statistically non-significant associations. Conclusion Sleep-related problems are prevalent across healthcare professionals, with differences between occupational subgroups. Targeted interventions addressing the significant correlates of sleep-related problems along with large-scale longitudinal studies, are essential to improve sleep quality, and understanding sleep-related issues, ultimately benefiting healthcare workers' overall wellbeing.