JOB PERFORMANCE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG HEALTH EXTENSION WORKERS IN EAST HARARGHE ZONE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Job performance is crucial for organizational goals, and Ethiopia's health extension programs have achieved significant health outcomes. However, challenges include improving the quality of the services provided within the program, like enhancing skills and health extension workers' performance, and creating an appropriate carrier structure. Though efforts are devoted to improving community health workers' performance, the challenge related to health extension workers' performance persists. In this regard, so far, there is limited evidence in the study area, so this study fills the limited evidence gap. Objectives: To assess job performance and associated factors among health extension workers working in district Health posts of East Hararghe Zone, Oromia Region, East Ethiopia, from June 1 to June 30, 2023. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study design was employed to assess job performance and associated factors among randomly selected 633 health extension workers starting from June 1 to June 30, 2023. A structured self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. The collected data were coded, cleaned, and double-entered into Epi-data version 3.1. The data were exported to SPSS version 22 for further analysis. The descriptive analysis of data was done using summary measures. All covariates that were significant at p value < 0.25 in Bivariable logistic regression analysis were considered multivariable analyses to detect predictors associated with the outcome. To measure the strength of the association between dependent and independent variables, Crude and adjusted odd ratios with 95% Confidence Intervals were calculated. Finally, the variable that shows a P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The overall level of self-rated job performance among health extension was found to be 53.9% (CI: 49.9%-57.8%). The socio-demographic factors such as level IV and above educational status [AOR=5.482 (3.752, 8.008)] and monthly income ≥5000ETB [AOR=1.815 (95%, CI: 1.259, 2.617)] were significantly associated with self-rated job performance. Conclusion: The overall self-rated job performance of Health extension workers (HEWs) was high. Factors such as educational level and monthly income were significantly associated with self-rated job performance among HEWs. The study emphasizes the need for improved educational and income levels for health extension workers, policy directives, capacity building, supportive supervision, improved payment options, performance-based rewards, and reward systems for top performers.