Prevalence of occupational stress-related syndromes among health care workers in Latin America from 2019 to 2023

This study aimed to systematically map existing evidence on the prevalence of work-related stress syndromes in the health care sector in Latin America and their associations with sociodemographic and occupational variables, with the goal of identifying knowledge gaps. Relevant studies published between 2019 and 2023 were reviewed across three databases following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines for scoping reviews. Study characteristics, sample details, explored syndromes, and results were recorded. The search identified 7,898 articles. After removing duplicates and assessing eligibility criteria, 67 articles were reviewed, with 12 included in the final analysis. Brazil had the highest number of included studies. Most samples consisted of women and physicians and nurses. All studies addressed burnout syndrome, with reported prevalence ranging from 13.2% to 70.3%. High emotional exhaustion was reported in 15.9% to 39.4% of participants, high depersonalization in 11.8% to 44.2%, and low personal fulfillment in 0% to 61.3%. Findings on sociodemographic and occupational variables were heterogeneous, showing both convergence and divergence with existing literature. Information on work-related stress syndromes in Latin American health care professionals is largely limited to burnout, with a focus on mental health and workplace conditions within specific groups and professions. There is an urgent need to explore other syndromes and professional categories to identify additional factors affecting the mental health of this population.