HEALTH PROFESSIONALS INTENTION TO LEAVE THE ORGANIZATION AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS IN PUBLIC HEALTH FCILITIES OF PASTORALIST AREA; FAFAN ZONE, EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Health professionals‟ intention to leave significantly affects the functioning of the health care sector worldwide, especially in developing countries, and it impedes progress towards different health-related goals by reducing innovation, affecting the quality of services and the motivation of health professionals. In Ethiopia from studies done on intention to leave the rganization, only few studies focus on all health professionals and all types of health facilities. Also there is no study done on intention to leave in pastoralist area in Ethiopia. Objective: To assess magnitude of health professionals intention to leave the organization and associated factors in public health facilities pastoralist area; Fafan Zone, Eastern Ethiopia from September 1 to 30, 2020 Methods: Institution based cross-sectional study was conducted in 14 public health facilities (1 hospital and 13 health centers) in Fafan Zone. Multi-stage stratified sampling was used to select 587 health professionals included in the study. The data were collected by using self-administered structured and pre-tested questionnaires. Standard questionnaire was used to assess intention to leave of health professionals. EpiData Version 3.1 was used for data entry and STATA version 16 was used for analysis. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify associated factors of intention to leave. All statistical tests are declared significant at P-value <0.05 and adjusted odds ratio with 95% CI was reported. Model fitness by Hosmer-lemeshow with the value of >0.05 fitted for the model (4.97) and multi-collinarity test was carried out by using Variance inflation factor (VIF=1.42). Result: Overall, 58.7% of the health professionals reported to have intention to leave. Younger (20-30) age group (AOR=2.84, 95% CI: 1.73- 4.67), not satisfied with their job (AOR= 1.86, 95% CI: 1.18 – 2.93), poor affective commitment (AOR= 3.69, 95% CI: 2.33- 5.83), poor continuance commitment (AOR=3.65, 95% CI: 2.32- 5.75) and poor work environment (AOR= 2.61, 95% CI: 1.63 - 4.18) were factors that are positively associated with intention to leave. Conclusion: Health professional‟s intention to leave public health institutions was 58.7%. Younger age, not satisfied with job, poor affective commitment, poor continuance commitment and poor work environment were the factors that influence intention to leave