Factors influencing Absenteeism of Health Workers from Workplace in Juba Teaching Hospital.

Abstract

Background: Absenteeism of health workers is a great concern because it disorganizes the routine of work which causes overburdens to workers that are present hence consequently lowering the quality of patient health care in the hospital. Absenteeism among health workers has become a problematic issue. Absenteeism is a problem all over the world and a solution cannot be easily found. Absenteeism is one of the major causes of poor productivity and time wastage faced not only by South Sudan but also by health sectors worldwide. Objective: The aim of the study was to determine factors influencing absenteeism of health workers from workplace in Juba Teaching Hospital from April to July, 2015. Method: A descriptive cross sectional study was employed to assess factors influencing absenteeism of health workers from workplace in Juba Teaching Hospital from April to July, 2015. A total of 226 health workers from the hospital were included in this study using non probability, convenient sampling technique. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 16.0. Result: From the assessment done, age (X2=3.844, P=0.000), Marital status of the respondents (X2=11.774, P=0.001), qualification of the respondents (X2=23.816, P=0.000) work department of the respondents (X2=18.595, P=0.000), year of working experience at the hospital (X2=17.420, P=0.004), chronic condition(X2=30.847, P=0.000), having any of the physical minor ailments or chronic conditions kept you off duty in the last one month (X2=65.934, P=0.002), having family members to look after(X2=45.285, P=0.003), easy movement from place of residence to the hospital (X2=1.673, P=0.000), cost involved to move from place of residence to the hospital (X2=14.742, P=0.000), freedom to make independent decisions while performing duties (X2=90.320, P=0.002), teams work at workplace (X2=65.457, P=0.000), insufficient orientation on job undertaking (X2=39.970, P=0.000), overall workload (X2=11.839, P=0.030), accommodation within the hospital premises (X2=21.630, P=000), promotions in the hospital (X2=72.148, P=004), range of your salary income per month (X2=49.711, P=000), and distance between the hospital and your place of residence (X2=67.034, P=001) had a significant association with absenteeism from duty. Conclusion: Age, marital status, qualification (level of education), work department and year of working experience at the hospital, Having a chronic condition, having physical minor ailments or chronic conditions, having family members to look after, easiness to move from place of residence to the hospital and cost involved to move from place of residence to the hospital, Freedom to make independent decisions while performing duties, teams work at workplace, sufficient orientation on job undertaking, overall workload accommodation within the hospital premises, promotions in the hospital range of your salary income per month, and distance between the hospital and your place of residence were found to play a crucial role in the missing duty among the health workers. Thus, clear attendance policy, guideline and clear attendance expectations for all the health workers in the hospital.