Level of job satisfaction and associated factors among health workers in hospitals in Mbarara District

Abstract

Background: The effectiveness of health care delivery systems is largely dependent on the commitment of human resources available to respond to the health needs of populations. However, job satisfaction among health professionals in Uganda remains a major challenge in the health workforce. Although a number of studies have been conducted to assess job satisfaction in developed countries among different categories of health workers, very little literature exists in developing countries Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the level of job satisfaction and the associated factors among health workers in hospitals in Mbarara District from February and March 2020. Methods: This study was a cross sectional study among 438 health workers in hospitals in Mbarara district. Selection of participants for this study was done using proportionate stratified sampling by cadres at the hospitals followed by consecutive sampling. Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data on socio-demographic and job related factors. The main outcome of overall job satisfaction and its factors associated were analyzed using a generalized linear model (Poisson family, log link) with a 5% statistical significance level. Results: Four hundred thirty eight health workers participated yielding a 96.3% response rate. The overall level of job satisfaction was 32.6%. Years of service (aPR=1.02, p-value=0.010), being a laboratory staff (aPR=1.82, p-value=0.007), satisfaction with remuneration (aPR=1.62, p- value=0.010), satisfaction with tasks (aPR=2.05, p-value<0.001), satisfaction with recognition at work (aPR=1.58, p-value=0.012) and satisfaction with training (aPR=1.39, p-value=0.002) were significantly associated with overall job satisfaction. x Conclusion: The level of job satisfaction was found to be low. Years of service, being a laboratory staff, satisfaction with remuneration, tasks, recognition at work and training were the predictors of job satisfaction.