Job satisfaction among public health nurses in Africa. scoping review on predictors and impact

INTRODUCTION Nurses across the globe are vital to healthcare, yet their job satisfaction remains a persistent challenge. A recent global review highlighted that burnout driven by poor work environments and excessive workloads is linked to medical errors, reduced patient safety, and lower job satisfaction among nurses in diverse settings . In North America and Europe, satisfaction rates vary widely, but a notable trend is emerging: satisfaction dips significantly when workloads rise and support systems falter. In low and middle income countries, where resource limitations are more pronounced, surveys in Ethiopia report only about 41 % of healthcare professionals express job satisfaction. This pattern clearly extends into sub Saharan Africa, where resource constraints, weak career progression, and burnout converge. In Ghana, community health nurses report moderate satisfaction overall but point to key barriers: lack of equipment, transport issues, limited promotions, and inconsistent supervision. Similarly, midwives and nurses in the Savannah Region showed only 4.5 % with very high satisfaction, with poor remuneration and working conditions cited as root causes (udsijd.org). These findings underscore how systemic issues intersect to diminish satisfaction levels in real settings. Against this backdrop, public health nurses those tasked with preventive, community-based care face a unique set of pressures. They often work alone, travel long distances, and manage under resourced facilities. In Ghana, one study revealed that although many felt rewarded by their interactions with the community, dissatisfaction stemmed from logistical and career barriers . Similarly, Eastern Region data showed that male nurses reported higher job satisfaction than females, and stress and motivation levels were significantly associated with overall satisfaction (repository.ensign.edu.gh). Despite these insights, there is no comprehensive synthesis that unpacks both predictors and impacts of job satisfaction specifically among public health nurses in Africa. Problem statement: No scoping review exists that systematically maps existing evidence on what determines job satisfaction among public health nurses in African contexts, nor its influence on retention, service quality, and outcomes. This gap limits our ability to build policies or support interventions tailored to this cadre. Purpose of this study: This scoping review aims to map predictors and consequences of job satisfaction among public health nurses across Africa, identifying knowledge gaps and highlighting contextual trends. Significance: By aggregating this evidence, the review can guide policymakers in designing effective nurse retention strategies, support practitioners through enhanced workplace initiatives, and direct future research toward understudied areas, such as gender disparities and emerging stressors.