Medical doctors' experiences during COVID-19 in South African public hospitals
1
Population Studies, University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban, South Africa
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT:
Africa has the highest disease burden globally but the weakest health systems. South Africa's public healthcare system serves the majority of the population—primarily the poor and rural communities—yet operates with inadequate human resource ratios, budget constraints, and aging infrastructure. The system was already severely strained before COVID-19, with documented underfunding, staff shortages, and limited medical supplies affecting millions of South Africans who depend on public healthcare services. While extensive research documents public healthcare system challenges, limited understanding existed regarding how medical doctors in South African public hospitals adapted and coped during COVID-19's emergence and peak, particularly within already compromised healthcare infrastructure. A qualitative, explanatory, and exploratory study was conducted with 20 medical doctors from four public hospitals in eThekwini Municipality: Addington Hospital, King Edward VIII Hospital, Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, and Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. Medical doctors faced multiple interconnected challenges: adjustment difficulties, inadequate COVID-19 knowledge, psychological distress (depression, anxiety, stress), increased workloads amid limited resources and poor infrastructure, personal protective equipment shortages, and managing fear, myths, and patient/colleague deaths. Despite these challenges, doctors demonstrated resilience and adaptation strategies. The study uniquely identified specific coping mechanisms employed by medical doctors in resource-constrained settings and revealed facilitative conditions implemented by the Department of Health. Findings provide evidence-based insights into healthcare worker experiences in low-resource environments during pandemic conditions, offering a foundation for developing targeted support strategies and policy interventions to strengthen public healthcare systems in similar contexts globally.
Africa has the highest disease burden globally but the weakest health systems. South Africa's public healthcare system serves the majority of the population—primarily the poor and rural communities—yet operates with inadequate human resource ratios, budget constraints, and aging infrastructure. The system was already severely strained before COVID-19, with documented underfunding, staff shortages, and limited medical supplies affecting millions of South Africans who depend on public healthcare services. While extensive research documents public healthcare system challenges, limited understanding existed regarding how medical doctors in South African public hospitals adapted and coped during COVID-19's emergence and peak, particularly within already compromised healthcare infrastructure. A qualitative, explanatory, and exploratory study was conducted with 20 medical doctors from four public hospitals in eThekwini Municipality: Addington Hospital, King Edward VIII Hospital, Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, and Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. Medical doctors faced multiple interconnected challenges: adjustment difficulties, inadequate COVID-19 knowledge, psychological distress (depression, anxiety, stress), increased workloads amid limited resources and poor infrastructure, personal protective equipment shortages, and managing fear, myths, and patient/colleague deaths. Despite these challenges, doctors demonstrated resilience and adaptation strategies. The study uniquely identified specific coping mechanisms employed by medical doctors in resource-constrained settings and revealed facilitative conditions implemented by the Department of Health. Findings provide evidence-based insights into healthcare worker experiences in low-resource environments during pandemic conditions, offering a foundation for developing targeted support strategies and policy interventions to strengthen public healthcare systems in similar contexts globally.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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