Abstract:
Background: Depressive symptoms are potential outcomes of poorly functioning and demanding work
environments. Such symptoms are frequent and cause considerable suffering for the employees as well as
financial loss for the employers. As a major hub of tourist attraction and the current consistent terrorism threats,
workers in hotel industries in Nairobi Kenya have significant pressure not only to deliver quality services but
also are faced with declining tourist flow. Accordingly, studies of psychosocial working conditions and
depressive symptoms in this industry are valuable. Objective: This study measured the levels of depressive
disorders and associated correlates among workers in selected luxury hotel industries in Nairobi Kenya.
Methods: This cross-sectional study, consented and enrolled 360 workers in selected hotels in Nairobi. A
sociodemographic based questionnaire and a mental health screening tool; Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)
were used to gather information relevant to this study. The data was analyzed for central tendencies as well as
for any associations and correlations. Results: The mean age of the 360 respondents was 28.4 (SD± 4.98) years.
The majority 84.2% were aged 20 to 30 years, 55.3% had secondary level education, 35.3% worked as waiters.
Using the PHQ-9, 9.2% had major depressive disorder while 10% were categorized as other depressive disorders.
In multivariate analysis, major depressive disorders were independently associated with staying in temporary
housing (OR 0.1, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.6) and those whose adult household population was between 1 to 3 persons
(OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.03 to 7). The other depressive disorders were independently associated with working in low
end hotels (OR 5.3, 95% CI 1.2 to 22.7); having primary education level (OR 3.9, 95% CI 1.1 to 15.9); staying in
temporary houses (OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.1 to 0.8); and with monthly income of 10,000 to 50,000 KSh (100 to
500USD). The Key informant interviews identified poor remuneration, management disregard to employees
input, negative attitude from work and colleagues, hostile treatment by clients, employers and colleagues, long
working hours, poor diet, domestic problems, political instabilities, pressure from family members and high
standards of living as some of the factors contributing to work related depression. Conclusion: Cumulatively,
significantly high proportion of hotel workers suffer from depressive disorders in Nairobi. If correlates such as
socio-demographic and economic, influenced by working conditions are not tackled, workers in hotel industries
in Nairobi are poised to record one of the highest levels of depressive disorders in Kenya.
