Factors associated with retention of health workers in remote public health centers in Northern Uganda: a cross-sectional study
Abstract Background Health worker retention in remote and hard-to-reach areas remains a threat in most low- and middle-income countries, and this negatively impacts health service delivery. The health workforce inequity is catastrophic for countries like Uganda that still has a low health worker to...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Human Resources for Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-023-00870-0 |
| _version_ | 1827634058371268608 |
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| author | Andrew Twineamatsiko Nathan Mugenyi Yvonne Nabachwa Kuteesa Ejalu David Livingstone |
| author_facet | Andrew Twineamatsiko Nathan Mugenyi Yvonne Nabachwa Kuteesa Ejalu David Livingstone |
| author_sort | Andrew Twineamatsiko |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Health worker retention in remote and hard-to-reach areas remains a threat in most low- and middle-income countries, and this negatively impacts health service delivery. The health workforce inequity is catastrophic for countries like Uganda that still has a low health worker to patient ratio, and remote areas like Lira District that is still recovering from a long-term civil war. This study explores factors associated with retention of health workers in remote public health centers in Lira district in Northern Uganda. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study with quantitative methods of data collection was used among health workers namely; doctors, clinical officers, nurses, midwives, pharmacists and, laboratory technicians. The study utilized a structured questionnaire with closed ended questions to obtain quantitative information. Results Most of the respondents were females (62.90%), married (84.62%), with certificate level (55.74%), and nurses as qualification (36.60%) as well as attached to Health Center 3 level (61.28%). Significant individual factors associated with retention included having a certificate as highest level of education, staying with family, and working at facility for 6 or more years. The health system factors were good physical state of facility, equipment availability, availability of sundries, feeling comfortable with rotations, receiving adequate support from staff, feeling valued and respected by colleagues at workplace and access to incentives while career factors were job satisfaction, job motivation, promotion, and further training on scholarship. Conclusion The study established that indeed several individual and social demographics, health system and career-related factors are significantly associated with retention of Health workers in the rural public health facilities and these are critical policy recommendations for establishing retention guidelines in a national human resources for health manual. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:08:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-af146d13e8d54875bfb805817e099d1d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1478-4491 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:08:07Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Human Resources for Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-af146d13e8d54875bfb805817e099d1d2023-11-26T13:32:04ZengBMCHuman Resources for Health1478-44912023-10-012111910.1186/s12960-023-00870-0Factors associated with retention of health workers in remote public health centers in Northern Uganda: a cross-sectional studyAndrew Twineamatsiko0Nathan Mugenyi1Yvonne Nabachwa Kuteesa2Ejalu David Livingstone3Faculty of Health Sciences, Uganda Martyrs UniversityFaculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and TechnologyMakerere University College of Health SciencesFaculty of Health Sciences, Uganda Martyrs UniversityAbstract Background Health worker retention in remote and hard-to-reach areas remains a threat in most low- and middle-income countries, and this negatively impacts health service delivery. The health workforce inequity is catastrophic for countries like Uganda that still has a low health worker to patient ratio, and remote areas like Lira District that is still recovering from a long-term civil war. This study explores factors associated with retention of health workers in remote public health centers in Lira district in Northern Uganda. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study with quantitative methods of data collection was used among health workers namely; doctors, clinical officers, nurses, midwives, pharmacists and, laboratory technicians. The study utilized a structured questionnaire with closed ended questions to obtain quantitative information. Results Most of the respondents were females (62.90%), married (84.62%), with certificate level (55.74%), and nurses as qualification (36.60%) as well as attached to Health Center 3 level (61.28%). Significant individual factors associated with retention included having a certificate as highest level of education, staying with family, and working at facility for 6 or more years. The health system factors were good physical state of facility, equipment availability, availability of sundries, feeling comfortable with rotations, receiving adequate support from staff, feeling valued and respected by colleagues at workplace and access to incentives while career factors were job satisfaction, job motivation, promotion, and further training on scholarship. Conclusion The study established that indeed several individual and social demographics, health system and career-related factors are significantly associated with retention of Health workers in the rural public health facilities and these are critical policy recommendations for establishing retention guidelines in a national human resources for health manual.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-023-00870-0Health workersHealth worker retentionHard-to-reach areas |
| spellingShingle | Andrew Twineamatsiko Nathan Mugenyi Yvonne Nabachwa Kuteesa Ejalu David Livingstone Factors associated with retention of health workers in remote public health centers in Northern Uganda: a cross-sectional study Human Resources for Health Health workers Health worker retention Hard-to-reach areas |
| title | Factors associated with retention of health workers in remote public health centers in Northern Uganda: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Factors associated with retention of health workers in remote public health centers in Northern Uganda: a cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Factors associated with retention of health workers in remote public health centers in Northern Uganda: a cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factors associated with retention of health workers in remote public health centers in Northern Uganda: a cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Factors associated with retention of health workers in remote public health centers in Northern Uganda: a cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | factors associated with retention of health workers in remote public health centers in northern uganda a cross sectional study |
| topic | Health workers Health worker retention Hard-to-reach areas |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-023-00870-0 |
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