Psychosocial Challenges in Mortuary Practice in Kenya

Abstract

The primary goal of the study was to identify psychosocial challenges in Kenyan mortuary practice. Among other stressors, mortuary professionals experience psychosocial difficulties include depression, compassion fatigue, burning out, anguish and death anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, occupational stress, and heightened stress. The current study used a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods. The research employed a cross-sectional retrospective design. Mortuary employees in Nairobi County, Mombasa County, Kisumu County, Nakuru County, Machakos County, Kakamega County, and Meru County were the focus of the study. The study findings indicate that the majority of participants fell within the 31-40 age group, which constituted 36% of the total study population. This suggests that individuals in this age range are likely to be more actively engaged in the profession or field under study, possibly due to career growth, stability, or experience. The stigma imposed on mortuary workers may be related to the nature of the profession and the diverse belief among the people that treating the dead is unclean employment. The implications of this finding are that mortuary personnel may confront human resource issues, with employers developing attitudes about this cadre.