Job Satisfaction Levels and Contributing Factors Among Health Professionals in Rural Public Healthcare Facilities of Limpopo Province, South Africa
Abstract
Job satisfaction reflects an employee's motivation and contentment with their work. Globally, the turnover and retention of healthcare professionals are essential for providing vital health services. However, there has been minimal research on job satisfaction among healthcare professionals in rural areas of South Africa. This study aimed to evaluate job satisfaction and its contributing factors among healthcare professionals in the rural provinces of South Africa. A cross-sectional study was conducted, involving nurses and medical doctors across four public healthcare facilities over a three-month period. Out of 84 questionnaires distributed, 83 were completed, yielding a response rate of 98.8%. Overall, 37.3% of participants expressed satisfaction with their job. The main factors contributing to dissatisfaction were a lack of resources (81%), subpar working conditions (80%), inadequate rewards for extra efforts (75%), and a high workload (73%). The findings revealed notably low job satisfaction, underscoring the need for strategic planning and effective human resource management. Enhancing job security, improving working conditions, offering fair compensation, and supporting career advancement are essential. Addressing workload management through optimized schedules, reduced turnover, skilled recruitment, and task prioritization training is also recommended.
Downloads
References
Akuffo, K. O., Agyei-Manu, E., Kumah, D. B., Danso-Appiah, A., Mohammed, A. S., Asare, A. K., & Addo, E. K. (2021). Job satisfaction and its associated factors among optometrists in Ghana: a cross-sectional study. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 19, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12955-020-01650-3
Al Otaibi, S. M., Amin, M., Winterton, J., Bolt, E. E. T., & Cafferkey, K. (2023). The role of empowering leadership and psychological empowerment on nurses’ work engagement and affective commitment. International Journal of Organizational Analysis, 31(6), 2536-2560. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOA-11-2021-3049
Al Sabei, S. D., Labrague, L. J., Miner Ross, A., Karkada, S., Albashayreh, A., Al Masroori, F., & Al Hashmi, N. (2020). Nursing work environment, turnover intention, job burnout, and quality of care: The moderating role of job satisfaction. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 52(1), 95-104. https://doi.org/10.1111/jnu.12528
Aruldoss, A., Berube Kowalski, K., Travis, M. L., & Parayitam, S. (2022). The relationship between work–life balance and job satisfaction: Moderating role of training and development and work environment. Journal of Advances in Management Research, 19(2), 240-271. https://doi.org/10.1108/JAMR-01-2021-0002
Ayalew, F., Kibwana, S., Shawula, S., Misganaw, E., Abosse, Z., Van Roosmalen, J., & Mariam, D. W. (2019). Understanding job satisfaction and motivation among nurses in public health facilities of Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study. BMC nursing, 18, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-019-0373-8
Boniol, M., Kunjumen, T., Nair, T. S., Siyam, A., Campbell, J., & Diallo, K. (2022). The global health workforce stock and distribution in 2020 and 2030: a threat to equity and ‘universal’health coverage?. BMJ global health, 7(6), e009316. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2022-009316
Chen, S. C., & Chen, C. F. (2018). Antecedents and consequences of nurses’ burnout: Leadership effectiveness and emotional intelligence as moderators. Management Decision, 56(4), 777-792. https://doi.org/10.1108/MD-10-2016-0694
Choi, S. L., Goh, C. F., Adam, M. B. H., & Tan, O. K. (2016). Transformational leadership, empowerment, and job satisfaction: the mediating role of employee empowerment. Human resources for health, 14, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-016-0171-2
Erro-Garcés, A., & Ferreira, S. (2019). Do better workplace environmental conditions improve job satisfaction?. Journal of Cleaner Production, 219, 936-948. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.02.138
Geta, A., Biks, G. A., Dellie, E., & Yazachew, L. (2021). Job satisfaction and associated factors among health professionals working at public and private hospitals in Bahir Dar City, Northwest Ethiopia: a comparative cross‐sectional study. BioMed Research International, 2021(1), 6632585. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/6632585
Guan, X., Ni, B., Zhang, J., Zhu, D., Cai, Z., Meng, W., & Ross-Degnan, D. (2021). Association between physicians’ workload and prescribing quality in one tertiary hospital in China. Journal of Patient Safety, 17(8), e1860-e1865. https://doi.org/10.4103/njbcs.njbcs_31_17
Holland, P., Tham, T. L., Sheehan, C., & Cooper, B. (2019). The impact of perceived workload on nurse satisfaction with work-life balance and intention to leave the occupation. Applied nursing research, 49, 70-76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnr.2019.06.001
Kolo, E. S. (2018). Job satisfaction among healthcare workers in a tertiary center in kano, Northwestern Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Basic and Clinical Sciences, 15(1), 87-91. https://doi.org/10.4103/njbcs.njbcs_31_17
Kovner, C. T., Brewer, C. S., Fatehi, F., & Jun, J. (2014). What does nurse turnover rate mean and what is the rate?. Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice, 15(3-4), 64-71. https://doi.org/10.1177/1527154414547953
Mabunda, S. A., Gupta, M., Chitha, W. W., Mtshali, N. G., Ugarte, C., Echegaray, C., & Joshi, R. (2021). Lessons learnt during the implementation of WISN for comprehensive primary health care in India, South Africa and Peru. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(23), 12541. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182312541
Makholwa, N., Tlou, B., & Dlungwane, T. P. (2023). Job satisfaction among rehabilitation professionals employed in public health facilities in KwaZulu-Natal. African Health Sciences, 23(2), 764-72. https://doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v23i2.87
Mere, R. A., Simbeni, T. V., Mathibe, M., Mogale, M. N., & Ntuli, S. T. (2023). Job satisfaction among health professionals in a District of North West province, South Africa. Health SA Gesondheid, 28(1). https://doi.org/10.4102/hsag.v28i0.2234
Munyewende, P. O., Rispel, L. C., & Chirwa, T. (2014). Positive practice environments influence job satisfaction of primary health care clinic nursing managers in two South African provinces. Human resources for health, 12, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1186/1478-4491-12-27
Niskala, J., Kanste, O., Tomietto, M., Miettunen, J., Tuomikoski, A. M., Kyngäs, H., & Mikkonen, K. (2020). Interventions to improve nurses' job satisfaction: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 76(7), 1498-1508. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.14342
Park, S., & Lee, T. (2018). Factors influencing Korean nurses' intention to stay: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration, 24(2), 139-148. https://doi.org/10.11111/jkana.2018.24.2.139
Park, S. H., Boyle, D. K., Bergquist‐Beringer, S., Staggs, V. S., & Dunton, N. E. (2014). Concurrent and lagged effects of registered nurse turnover and staffing on unit‐acquired pressure ulcers. Health Services Research, 49(4), 1205-1225. https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6773.12158
Rodríguez-Fernández, M., Herrera, J., & de Las Heras-Rosas, C. (2021). Model of organizational commitment applied to health management systems. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(9), 4496. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18094496
Sanjeewa, G. C. & Dilina, H. (2018). Employee Satisfaction and Related Factors among Public Healthcare Workers in Sri Lanka: A Case Study on Regional Directorate of Hambanthota. JOJ Nurse Health Care, 8(4). https://doi.org/10.19080/jojnhc.2018.08.555742
Shi, L., Song, K., Rane, S., Sun, X., Li, H., & Meng, Q. (2014). Factors associated with job satisfaction by Chinese primary care providers. Primary health care research & development, 15(1), 46-57. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1463423612000692
Singh, T., Kaur, M., Verma, M., & Kumar, R. (2019). Job satisfaction among health care providers: A cross-sectional study in public health facilities of Punjab, India. Journal of family medicine and primary care, 8(10), 3268-3275. https://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_600_19
Tarcan, M., Hikmet, N., Schooley, B., Top, M., & Tarcan, G. Y. (2017). An analysis of the relationship between burnout, socio-demographic and workplace factors and job satisfaction among emergency department health professionals. Applied nursing research, 34, 40-47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnr.2017.02.011
World Health Organization. (2020). State of the world's nursing 2020: Investing in education, jobs and leadership. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240003279
Yang, J. H., Liao, Y. F., Lin, W. B., & Wu, W. (2019). Prescribing errors in electronic prescriptions for outpatients intercepted by pharmacists and the impact of prescribing workload on error rate in a Chinese tertiary-care women and children’s hospital. BMC Health Services Research, 19, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aucc.2022.08.009
Yarad, E., Bates, S., Butler, M., Byrne, K., Eastwood, G., Grattan, S., & Hammond, N. E. (2023). Job satisfaction and symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, and burnout: A survey of Australian and New Zealand intensive care research coordinators. Australian Critical Care, 36(1), 35-43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aucc.2022.08.009
Yilkal F., D., Enyew Ashagrie, H., & Getinet Kasahun, H. (2018). Job Satisfaction and Associated Factors among Anesthetists Working in Amhara National Regional State, Northwest Ethiopia, May 2017: A Multicenter Cross‐Sectional Study. Anesthesiology Research and Practice, 2018(1), 6489674. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/6489674
Copyright (c) 2024 Maseeng Lydia Nkobeni, Ricky Munyaradzi Mukonza, Oratilwe Penwell Mokoena, Sam Thembelihle Ntuli
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
Authors are permitted to publish their work online in third parties as it can lead to wider dissemination of the work.
