JOB SATISFACTION AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG HEALTH EXTENSION WORKERS IN WEST HARARGHE ZONE EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

:Health Extension Program (HEP) in Ethiopia is a core component of the broader health system that is adopted to achieve universal coverage of primary health care to the rural population. Low job satisfaction of Health extension workers may decrease the benefit of investment in the implementation of HEP. However, no study was undertaken in the West Hararghe zone on job satisfaction and associated factors of health extension workers even though there is a high turnover rate of health extension workers in the zone. Objective: To assess the level of job satisfaction and associated factors among HEWs in public health facilities of West Hararghae Zone of Oromia Region, Eastern Ethiopia from September 20 to October 20, 2020. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 432 randomly selected health extension workers. A pre- tested structured questionnaire was used to collect data on a face-to-face basis. The collected data was entered into Epi-Data version 3.1 and exported to STATA Version 14.2 for data cleaning and analysis. Bi-variable and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were done to see the association between the dependent and independent variables. The level of statistical significance was declared at a p-value less than 0.05. Results:The current study revelead, 51.8% (95% CI: 46.97%, 56.60%) of HEWs was satisfied with their job with the mean satisfaction score of 51.8%. Not Working in the residence where Parents live (AOR= 1.94, 95% CI: 1.24, 3.04), Distance >10 km from District town(AOR=1.59, 95% CI: 1.01, 2.53) , getting supportive supervision (AOR = 1.64, 95% CI: 1.06, 2.55) and salary >5260 ETB(AOR= 1.69, 95% CI: 1.01, 2.85)were significant factors associated with HEW job satisfaction. Conclusion: Overall level of job satisfaction of health extension workers was nearly half in the study area. Supportive supervision,salary,distance and parent residential place were predictors of job satisfaction of HEWS.This study recommends that focusing on these factors to reduce problem of job satisfaction of HEWs in the working area