Factors Affecting Health Professionals' Motivation in Public Hospitals of Guji Zone, Oromia Regional State, Southern Ethiopia.

Abstract

Background: Motivation is a process that results from the dynamic interactions between individuals, their work environment and society. Low motivation leads to the insufficient translation of knowledge, the under utilization of available resources and weak health system performance. Objective: To assess factors affecting health professionals' motivation in Nagele and Adola public hospitals of Guji Zone, Oromia Regional state, Southern Ethiopia. Methods: Cross sectional study design with mixed quantitative and qualitative data collection methods was conducted among 227 and 12 health professionals respectively from September 2013 to October 2013. A pre-tested self administered structured questionnaire and interview guide was employed to obtain the necessary information. Data was entered by EpiData 3.1, cleaned and analyzed using SPSS 16.0 statistical packages. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression were done to evaluate association of different variables with health professionals motivation, and P-value < 0.05, at 95% CI was taken as cut off point for statistical significance. Ethical clearance was obtained from Ethical Committee of Jimma University, College of Public Health and Medical sciences. RESULTS: A total of 227 health professionals were filled the self administered questionnaires distributed. The result showed that more than half of health professionals 122(53.7%) were not motivated. The major factors associated with their motivation were age groups of less than 25 years[AOR=2.292(95%CI 1.043, 5.033)], paramedical type of professions[AOR=3.667(95%CI 1.149, 11.706)], poor management supportiveness[AOR=1.331(95% CI 1.119, 8.924)] and beaurocratic human resource management[AOR=2.203(95%CI 1.166, 15.147) have a significant association with health professionals motivation . CONCLUSION: The study result indicated that motivation level of health professionals in the two public Hospitals of Guji Zone were low. Among factors affecting their motivation level were beaurocratic human resource management and poor management supportiveness in their hospitals. It is recommended that fair human resource management in hospitals, providing good system of administration with supportive management, improve hospitals resources, supplies and infrastructures so as to improve the health professionals motivation in hospitals.