Mental health outcomes and associated factors among healthcare workers in Douala, Cameroon: a cross-sectional study

Background Mental health disorders among healthcare workers constitute an increasing public health concern, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where health system constraints exacerbate occupational stressors. Evidence from Cameroon remains limited, except during periods of acute public health emergencies. This study assessed the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and perceived stress and examined their demographic and occupational correlates among healthcare workers in Douala, Cameroon. Methods A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 335 healthcare workers in selected public and private health facilities in Douala. Depression, anxiety, and perceived stress were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10), respectively. Clinically significant symptoms were defined using established cut-off scores. Bivariate analyses and multivariable logistic regression were performed to identify factors associated with mental health outcomes. Results The prevalence of depression (PHQ-9 ≥ 10), anxiety (GAD-7 ≥ 10), and elevated perceived stress (PSS-10 ≥ 14) was 46.9%, 29.0%, and 69.0%, respectively. At the bivariate level, anxiety prevalence differed significantly across age groups (p = 0.026), with higher prevalence among younger healthcare workers. In multivariable analyses, poorer job performance was strongly associated with depression (aOR = 7.88; 95% CI: 3.21–19.32) and elevated perceived stress (aOR = 8.02; 95% CI: 3.26–19.74). Healthcare workers aged < 25 years had higher odds of anxiety compared with those aged 25–34 years (aOR = 1.97; 95% CI: 1.05–3.71). Physicians had significantly higher odds of elevated perceived stress compared with laboratory technicians (aOR = 2.94; 95% CI: 1.10–7.88). Conclusion Depression, anxiety, and perceived stress were highly prevalent among healthcare workers in Douala. The strong association between mental health outcomes and job performance underscores the functional relevance of psychological distress and highlights the need for targeted occupational mental health interventions.