Abstract
Background: Happiness is one of the ultimate goals of every human being. Happiness is a significant factor of health system efficiency. Healthcare workers are at the core of every health system. However, up-to-date literature on happiness among healthcare workers is limited. The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors influencing the self-assessed happiness among healthcare workers in public and mission hospitals, Meru County, Kenya. Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, a total of 553 healthcare workers in 24 hospitals completed the Orientations to Happiness questionnaire between June and July 2020. Results: Healthcare workers’ overall happiness was significantly different between hospitals of public and mission ownership (p<0.05). The orientations to happiness mean scores of both pursuits of pleasure and meaning were significantly different between public and mission hospitals (p<0.05). However, there were no statistically significant differences in the pursuit of engagement among the healthcare workers between public and mission hospitals (p<0.05). Conclusion: Our results may have policy and practical implications related to healthcare workers’ happiness policies and programs in future, aimed at health workforce strengthening. Future studies should replicate this study across the remaining 46 counties in Kenya.
Highlights
Happiness is a prime goal of each individual[1]
This study revealed that majority of the healthcare workers under study worked in public hospitals (78.48%), were female (61.30%), nurses (30.56%), had attained a diploma (60.58%), were employed full-time (93.49%), had attended in-service training (66.00%), were married (63.11%), and earned between 46,000–65,000 Kenyan shillings (KES), 10.7 years of experience, worked for 39 hours per week, lived in a median household size of three individuals, were not accommodated within the hospital compound (86.62%), and were between the ages 20 and 78 years
These results were contextually synchronized to the African philosophy of happiness, where the sense of meaning is believed to be a significant element of ultimate happiness
Summary
Happiness is a prime goal of each individual[1] Among these individuals are healthcare workers, who are the core of any health system[2]. There is a dearth of research on healthcare workers’ positive mental health aspects such as happiness, especially in low- and middle-income countries[6,7]. The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors influencing the self-assessed happiness among healthcare workers in public and mission hospitals, Meru County, Kenya. Results: Healthcare workers’ overall happiness was significantly different between hospitals of public and mission ownership (p
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