Perceptions of working conditions amongst health workers in state-owned facilities in northeastern Nigeria.
BACKGROUND
The health care sector depends to a large extent on human labor. Poor worker motivation can greatly affect health outcomes and patient safety. There is little information on the health workers' perceptions of working conditions in resource-poor settings.


METHODS
Three state-owned facilities in each state were selected by simple random sampling technique. The selected facilities were visited on weekdays between 9 and 10 a.m. A self-administered structured questionnaire was given to all health care workers on duty in the facility at the time of visit.


RESULTS
A total of 299 questionnaires were returned. The response rate was 85.43%. Two hundred four (68.2%) workers experienced general satisfaction with their current jobs. The relationships between general job satisfaction and presence of conflict at work (P = 0.001), freedom of expression (P > 0.001), managerial support for staff welfare (P > 0.001), managerial support for staff career development (P > 0.001), availability of tools and consumables in the workplace (P > 0.001) and progress towards personal professional goals (P = 0.001) were statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
The level of general job satisfaction was high. Though salaries were important, presence of conflict at work, freedom of expression, managerial support for staff welfare, managerial support for staff career development, availability of tools and consumables in the workplace and progress towards personal professional goals appear to play a role in worker motivation.
Department of Community Medicine, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. yemisichirdan@yahoo.com
Oluwabunmi O
OO
Chirdan
Joeseph T
JT
Akosu
Clara L
CL
Ejembi
Amos P
AP
Bassi
Ayuba I
AI
Zoakah
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009549:Nigeria; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017132:Workplace / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*