Employees Motivation and Performance of Health Workers in Public Hospitals in Siaya County, Kenya

Abstract

Performance in health sector is critical to enhance access and quality health service delivery. Even though performance has been considered in public hospitals in Kenya, the health sector has continued to experience low productivity and missed targets. It has been noted that performance of public facilities is not optimal. The health systems strengthening pillars identified employees’ motivation as a critical factor in performance management. This study sought to examine employees’ motivation on performance of health care workers in public hospitals in Siaya County. The survey objectives were; to explore the influence of remuneration systems on performance of health workers, to find out the relationship between work environment and performance of health workers, to assess the influence job recognition on performance of health care workers and to investigate the influence of career development on performance of health workers in public hospitals in Siaya County. Three theories were applied namely, Maslow hierarchy of needs, two factor and equity. Descriptive research design was used, and census method was applied in selecting the study participants. One hundred and fifty-nine participants were selected. Primary and secondary data collection methods were applied. To test validity as well as reliability, a pilot study was conducted. Data collected was tabulated, coded and analysed descriptively through frequency, mean and standard deviation; and inferentially by mean of ANOVA, regression model and regression coefficient. To make the data analysis more readable, tables and pie charts were utilized to illustrate it. The outcomes showed good correlation between the variables, with a coefficient of correlation (R) of 0.924. The results also showed that the coefficient of adjusted R2 was 0.832, or 83.2 percent. This clarifies that pay, job recognition, career advancement, and workplace environment can all account for 83.2% of changes in the performance of healthcare personnel.. The study concluded that employees’ motivation affects the performance of health care workers in public hospitals. The study recommends that Siaya county government should work together with salaries and remuneration commission to make sure that the health care workers are fairly compensated and promoted in accordance with their academic accomplishments. Also, ministry of health through national and county government should consider ways to create a safe, healthy working environment and increase incentives for continuing medical education in order to improve working conditions in hospital settings.