Factors influencing retention and development of health workforce

Abstract

The shortage of health workers, particularly doctors in disadvantaged areas such as the South Central Coast, affects delivery of quality health services in these areas. Therefore, with the purpose of giving appropriate solutions to retain and develop health workforce in 8 project provinces, the Southern Central Coast region project supports the implementation of a research to analyze factors affecting the retention and development of health workforce in these provinces. By employing a crosssectional study in combination of quantitative and qualitative methods, the study findings show that: 50 % of health workers in public sector want to move to private sector while 36.3 % of them want to move to health facilities at a higher level. The main reasons for such a movement is firstly low income (44.9 %); followed by having no opportunity for further training and career development (28.5 %); and thirdly poor work environment (21.1 %). Based on results of the study, some recommendations were given to the Ministry of Health, provincial authorities, the public healthcare facilities to maintain and develop human resources for health.