The effects of various retention factors on the choice of where rural origin Umthombo Youth Development Foundation health science graduates work

CONCLUSION: While nearly half of the rural-origin UYDF graduates surveyed continue to work in rural areas, this is considerably less than previously reported, indicating that rural-origin health workers are affected by retention factors. The lack of funded posts at rural PHCFs is a major barrier to the employment and retention of health workers, and to addressing the unequal distribution of health workers between urban and rural PHCFs. This requires commitment from government and other role players to increase the attraction and retention of health workers in rural areas. Focusing on the recruitment of rural students to become health workers, in the absence of adequate retention policies, is insufficient to adequately address shortages of staff at rural PHCFs, as rural-origin graduates will move from rural PHCFs to facilities where they can access these benefits.PMID:38196239 | DOI:10.22605/RRH8251
Source: Rural and Remote Health - Category: Rural Health Authors: Source Type: research