Abstract Preview - Step 3/4

This abstract is not yet submitted.  

  Category: D8 Health care workers (including volunteers) and HIV: training,

mentoring, retaining, task shifting, and ensuring occupational safety
Title: Human resources for the health sector-developing workable
solutions
Author(s): M. Ndegwa1
Institute(s): 1Ambassador of change, Advocacy, Nakuru, Kenya
Text: Introduction:
Developing countries face human resources for health constraints. The
dire shortage of health workers is amongst the most significant
constraints of achieving the 3 health-related MDGS. Available
workforce is unevenly distributed within the health system; attrition
rate is high as a result of migration especially nurses.

Methods:
A questionnaire was used for data collection engaging 48 nurses, 26
doctors, 83 midwives to seek verification of intension to migrate.
Policy analysis, a cross-sectional research designed comprising both
quantitative, qualitative methods was applied to achieve objectives of
the study. Reviews of literature and records were conducted to
determine current status of nurse migration.

Results:
The brain drain has left the country with critical shortage of
knowledgeable professionals needed to design, undertake health-care
programs.
Need for self development superseded all other factors in migration
especially for nurses.
Working and living conditions for health workers are extremely poor.
The numbers leaving were more than numbers produced in the
country-about 95% were heading for UK, USA and Canada.
The high mobility of the health workforce creates dysfunctions within
the health system impacting on the quality of care.
Health professionals within public sectors experience lower level of
remuneration compared to health workforce in the private sector,
associative structures compounded with poor motivation.

Conclusion:
Right to health depends on a qualified, motivated, accessible health
workforce.
Identification of relevant measures to strengthen the distribution of
health professionals in areas away from urban centres-address impact
of urbanization and climate change.
 Nurse migration underscores importance of developing monitoring
systems to identify implications, help implement innovative retention
strategies.
Involvement of nurses in health policy, decision-making processes.
Provide appropriate training for health professionals including human
rights issues.
Address the critical shortage of providers through use of e-learning
considering cost-effectiveness and ability to upgrade the skills quickly
Task-shifting eg. Well trained nurses can provide ART services

Keywords: 1. Reversing Health Trends

2. Attrition
3. Accessibility
4. Brain drain
5. Health Constraints
Country of research: Kenya
Related to women and
No
girls?
Ethical research
Yes
declaration: