Factors Influencing the Performance of Health Workers: A Case Study of HIV/AIDS Programs in Msambweni Sub-County, Kwale County, Kenya

Kenya is challenged with an inability to attract and retain health workers especially in the public sector as well as with performance management issues, unequal distribution of staff, and diminishing productivity among the health workforce. Many studies have been carried out to determine the performance of health workers in Kenya however little information is available on factors affecting the performance of health workers in HIV/AIDS programs in Kenya. The overall aim of the study was to determine the factors influencing the performance of health workers, a case study of HIV/AIDS Programs in Msambweni sub county, Kwale County. The study was guided by the following research objectives, to determine the effects of leadership style, organizational culture, and job security on the performance of health workers in HIV/AIDS programs in Msambweni, Kwale County. The study design used was mixed research design involving both descriptive and analytical methods which enable generalization of the findings to a larger population. The study targeted population of health workers working in HIV/AIDS programs in Msambweni sub- county which comprised of, the project managers, nurses, lab technicians, nutritionist, clinical officers, pharmacists and public health officers working in both private and public sector. Purposive sampling method was used in which only health workers formed the target population. The study used both qualitative and quantitative methods which involved the use of questionnaires for collecting data. The data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16.0 and Regression models. Correlation was used to test the strength of the association and estimate the relation between variables that contribute to the performance of health workers in HIV/AIDS programs in Msambweni, Kwale County. The results of the study, leadership style (r= 0.878, pless than0.05), organization culture (r= 0.639, pless than0.05) and job security (r= 0.584, pless than0.05) indicated a significant and positive effect of the independent variables on performance thus leading to the conclusion that leadership style, organization culture and job security affect the performance of health workers. It is therefore recommended that organizations should adopt democratic leadership style, make jobs more secure and formulate organizational visions, values, beliefs and habits that are acceptable, relevant and sustainable so as to improve the performance of health workers.