BackgroundHealthcare worker burnout is a global public health crisis, yet evidence on its urban-rural disparities in resource-limited regions like China's inland provinces remains scarce.ObjectiveThis study assessed socio-demographic and occupational predictors of burnout among healthcare workers in Henan Province, China.MethodsA cross-sectional, descriptive, and correlational study was conducted from August-September 2024 among 5189 healthcare workers across urban and rural settings. Burnout was measured using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). Predictors included work setting, work pressure, promotion opportunities, childcare support, and resource levels.ResultsBurnout patterns showed stark urban-rural contrasts. Rural workers had less than half the risk of emotional exhaustion (EE) (OR = 0.38-0.40), likely due to more manageable workflows. In contrast, urban workers under high pressure faced nearly ten times the risk (OR = 9.57), driven by clinical and academic demands. Adequate promotion opportunities were linked to a 23% lower risk of burnout (OR = 0.77). Notably, strong childcare support (for ≥2 children) halved the risk of EE (OR = 0.46). Despite an overall low sense of personal accomplishment in the sample, rural workers reported significantly higher odds (OR = 2.55-2.88) of high PA.ConclusionsStructural job demands and cultural factors significantly influence burnout disparities. While derived from a study in Henan Province, these findings offer insights likely applicable to other resource-limited settings internationally. Interventions prioritizing workload redistribution, transparent career pathways, and family-friendly policies are essential to mitigate burnout and enhance workforce sustainability in resource-limited settings. Clinicians and policymakers should integrate Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) principles with cultural context to optimize institutional support systems across diverse healthcare environments.
Keywords: China; Maslach Burnout Inventory; burnout; cross-sectional studies; health personnel; job demands-resources model; professional.