Factors Influencing Job Satisfaction among Health Workers in Tanzania: A Case of Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre Referral Hospital

Abstract

In order to achieve improved and standard health care delivery, health workforce is of paramount importance. With the inadequate staffing of health workers in Tanzania which has well been reported, satisfied personnel is vital for effective and quality health service delivery. The broad objective of this research was to ascertain factors that impact job satisfaction among human resource for health in Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC), Tanzania. This was a cross-sectional study, institutional-based. The target population was all health workers in KCMC. Sampling procedure was stratified probability sampling and a total of 257 respondents were included in the study. Collection of data was done through structured questionnaires and analysis was done using SPSS version 23. In order to determine association between factor scores in the independent variables and the dependent variable, logistic regression model was ran at 95%CI whereas P<0.05 was considered regarded statistically significant. Results showed that job satisfaction rate of health workforce at KCMC was 49%. Nurses is the cadre with the highest job dissatisfaction rate of 60.2% followed by doctors at 51.6%. The highest job satisfaction rate was revealed among the carder of allied health professional at the rate of 66.7%. Factors which were revealed to have significant relationship to job satisfaction were marital status [AOR=2.46, (1.28-4.69), P=0.006], decision making processes [AOR=1.21, (1.07-1.38), p=0.002], supervision [AOR=1.16, (1.03-1.31), p=0.014], relationship with co-workers [AOR=1.17, (1.07-1.29), P=0.001] competitive pay [AOR=1.37, (1.18-1.59), P<0.0001], career advancement [AOR=1.13, (1.07-1.21), P<0.0001], and nature of work [AOR=1.19, (1.04-1.35), P=0.009]. On measuring the satisfaction levels, it was promotion and income that had the lowest satisfaction rates of 14.1% and 14.7% respectively. The findings of this study showed a moderate level of job satisfaction of 49% among the health workers surveyed. Variables which showed significant association with job satisfaction are marital status decision making process, supervisory support, relationship with co-workers, competitive pay and compensation, career advancement and the nature of work. The hospital management needs to improve on making major decisions more participatory so as to make the employees own those decisions and take active role in the implementation process. Enhancing supervisory support to employees would create enabling working environment, hence improve job satisfaction. Salary increases or promotion should be regularly considered to reward good performance. There is a need to improve on the career advancement opportunities for the employees so that employees can acquire more skills for quality health care delivery. Key words: Job satisfaction, health workers, health care delivery, KCMC, Tanzania