Turnover Intention and Associated Factors Among Health Professionals in University of Gondar Referral Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia

Endager Abera

doi:10.4172/2162-6359.1000196

Abstract

Background: Health workers turnover is an increasing problem that threatens the functioning of the health care sector worldwide, especially in developing countries. There are very few studies on turnover intention in low-income countries, especially in Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess turnover intention of health workers and its determinants in University of Gondar Referral Hospital, Ethiopia. Methods: Institutional based cross sectional study was conducted from March to April, 2014 at University of Gondar Referral Hospital on 394 health professionals using stratified random sampling techniques. The data were cleaned, coded, entered into EPI INFO version 3.5.3, and transferred and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were carried out to identify factors associated with turnover intention. Results: overall, 52.5% of the health professionals reported to have turnover intentions. Respondents who have degree and above academic rank [AOR=2.717(95%CI:1.192,6.190)]; nursing profession [AOR= 7.668(95%CI: 2.913,20.188)], laboratory profession[AOR 9.153,(95% CI: 2.925,28.636)], work experience of 2.1 to 5 years [AOR=1.937,(95% CI: 1.142,3.288)] and income level of 2100 to 2259 [AOR =0.431(95% CI: 0.213,0.871)] were significantly associated with turnover intention of the health professionals. Conclusions: In this study, turn over intention of health professionals was found to be high. Educational level, profession, work experience, income are significantly associated with intent to turnover. Hence, it is worth strengthening human resources for health management at hospital level through implementing retention strategies.

Highlights

Turnover is viewed as a voluntary separation of an individual from an organization
Health workers turnover is an increasing problem that threatens the functioning of the health care sector worldwide, especially in developing countries [2,3]
Improved retention of health workers contributes to the provision of quality health care because it builds up competencies, optimizes team relations, and strengthens the relationship of health workers with local communities [4]

Summary

Introduction

Turnover is viewed as a voluntary separation of an individual from an organization. It results from a combination of organizational events, working conditions, and psychological factors interacting with each other to affect employee attitudes in and toward the organization [1].Health workers turnover is an increasing problem that threatens the functioning of the health care sector worldwide, especially in developing countries [2,3].Improved retention of health workers contributes to the provision of quality health care because it builds up competencies, optimizes team relations, and strengthens the relationship of health workers with local communities [4]. Turnover is viewed as a voluntary separation of an individual from an organization It results from a combination of organizational events, working conditions, and psychological factors interacting with each other to affect employee attitudes in and toward the organization [1]. Several factors influence the decision of health workers to stay in or leave their posts. Among these are low pay, poor career structure, lack of opportunities for graduate training and poor living and working conditions [5,6]. Health workers turnover is an increasing problem that threatens the functioning of the health care sector worldwide, especially in developing countries. There are very few studies on turnover intention in low-income countries, especially in Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess turnover intention of health workers and its determinants in University of Gondar Referral Hospital, Ethiopia

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion