IJBHTM 2016 Volume 6 Issue 4

International Journal of BioSciences, Healthcare Technology and Management (IJBHTM) ISSN: 0975-3893

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Title:

Health Worker Motivation in Ghana: The Role of Non-Financial Incentives. A Case Study of Accident and Emergency Department of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital

Authors & Affiliation:

Samuel E. Ankomah1, Emmanuel Kumah2 & Akua Kusiwaa Karikari3

1. Family Medicine Directorate, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, P.O. Box 1934, Kumasi, Ghana. E-mail: kingkestic@yahoo.com Tel: +233245709429

2. Institute of Management, Scuola Superiore Sant Anna, Martiri della Liberta, 33, Pisa PI Italy. E-mail: ababiohemmanuel@gmail.com. Tel: +393319947428

3. Family Medicine Directorate, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, P.O. Box 1934, Kumasi, Ghana. E-mail: akua9377@yahoo.com Tel: +233244265411.

Abstract:

The success of every health care system greatly depends on the extent to which health workers are motivated. Over the past years, many health care organisations in Ghana have heavily relied on financial incentives as the major way of motivating health care staff. In spite of these, morale of health workers in Ghana continues to decline. Recent studies have shown that to address the problem of health worker constraints, health care organisations need to move beyond the usual traditional human resource management approaches that apply financial incentives to motivate and retain health workers. Instead, health care managers have been urged to consider using non-financial incentives to motivate and retain health workers. This study was therefore conducted to examine the role of non-financial incentives on health worker motivation. The study was a quantitative study, specifically questionnaire survey. A total of 150 health workers were sampled for this study. Data gathered were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools such as bar graphs and pie charts.

The findings of this study confirmed other findings that the state of health worker morale in Ghana is low. The study further revealed that health workers considered the working environment as the highest and most important non-financial motivator. This was followed by training and career development; provision of staff accommodation; job security; promotion, growth and development; recognition, praise and acknowledgment. These findings also confirmed other findings that non-financial incentives play a critical role in motivating health workers in Ghana.

The study therefore recommended that non-financial incentives should be given much priority when motivating health workers in Ghana. The study further recommended for an improvement in the physical and social environment of health care organizations as well as providing enough training and career development programmes for health workers.

Keywords: Motivation, Non-financial incentives, Health worker motivation, incentives