War-related vicarious trauma among healthcare providers in the war-torn tigray, Northern Ethiopia

Abstract

Healthcare workers in Tigray region experienced high level of vicarious trauma (8 out of 10). This was worse for older workers with larger families, those living and walking farther to work, and those working in heavily conflict-affected central and northwest Tigray. This calls for the government and stakeholders urgently collaborate to provide training on mental resilience, coping strategies, and support resources, offer age-specific psychoeducation, consider adjusting work hours for older employees, support affected employees and their families, improve transportation, and reduce administrative burdens on managers to prioritize staff well-being.