Health workforce attrition in the public sector in Kenya: a look at the reasons

Abstract

Background: Kenya, like many other countries in sub-Saharan Africa, has been affected by shortages of health workers in the public sector. Data on the rates and leading reasons for health workers attrition in the public sector are key in developing effective, evidence-based planning and policy on human resources for health.

The impact of an emergency hiring plan on the shortage and distribution of nurses in Kenya: the importance of information systems

“…These two health ministries oversee the public health-care sector, which supplies about 50% of all health care in Kenya, while private and faith-based sectors cover the remainder. 10 Although the Kenya Health Workforce Informatics System is based in the Ministry of Medical Services, it collects staffing data from facilities under the supervision of both of Kenya's health ministries. The Informatics System was developed through a collaborative initiative of the Department of Nursing, the Nursing Council of Kenya, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States of America (USA) and the Lillian Carter Center for International Nursing at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.…”

“…1,7 The shortage of health-care workers in low-income countries is complicated by problems with motivation and retention and by unemployment among health-care providers who are professionally qualified but unable to find jobs. [9][10][11][12] Many low-income countries face fiscal restraints on hiring within the public sector 13 due to macroeconomic policies 2 that cap salaries, freeze hiring and neglect education and training. 6 Prolonged application of these policies has resulted in a severe erosion of the human infrastructure for health from which many countries are only now emerging.…”

Strengthening Health Systems by Integrating Health Care, Medical Education, and Research

“…1,2 The Partnership for Innovative Medical Education for Kenya (PRIME-Kenya) is an innovative approach that seeks to strengthen health systems by increasing linkages and collaborations in health care, health education, and health research. This approach was informed by concerns of inadequate clinical exposure with increasing undergraduate student enrollment at a tertiary hospital; increasing demand for locally relevant health research; and the desire to retain health workers at non-tertiary facilities during and after training.…”

Training Opportunities for Environmental Health Staff in Kenya: Too Few?

“…Sub Saharan Africa suffers from inadequate health workers 1,2 . Reasons for this shortage include migrat ion of health workers to work in developed countries due to better terms; poor working conditions and the HIV/AIDS scourge among others 1,2 .…”

“…Sub Saharan Africa suffers from inadequate health workers 1,2 . Reasons for this shortage include migrat ion of health workers to work in developed countries due to better terms; poor working conditions and the HIV/AIDS scourge among others 1,2 . To achieve the health related Millenniu m Develop ment Goals 1,3 , there is need to scale up access to key interventions like antiretroviral therapy, TB and malaria treat ment.…”