Factors Influencing the Performance of Public Servants in the Health Sector: a Case of Garissa County

Abstract

Changes and competition has been dramatically increasing in the current world of competiveness and diversity. Globally, government sectors and public employees have taken the major roles in making the country prosper in economics, society, politics and technology among the world top rankers. If employees especially in public sector cannot adjust well with the changing world of competitiveness, ineffectiveness can decrease the government efficiency. An efficient public sector service is key to any country's growth and development, the performance of the civil service in Kenya has been on the decline. The main objective of this study was to establish the factors influencing the performance of public servants in the health sector with a focus on Garissa County, Kenya. Specifically the study sought to; establish the influence of work environment on performance of public servants in the health sector in Garissa County; determine the extent to which management practices influence performance of public servants in the health sector in Garissa County; find out the influence work morale has on performance of public servants in the health sector in Garissa County; and to ascertain the influence of equipment and tools on performance of public servants in the health sector in Garissa County. The study adopted a descriptive research design. The target population for this study included: Ministry of Health (MoH) workers at Garissa County who included management of the MoH, doctors, nurses, healthcare waste handlers, incinerator operators, cleaners, laundry staff, mortuary attendants, and other casual workers. The study involved 80 sampled and randomly selected Ministry of Health (MoH) workers at Garissa County. The study relied on data collected through questionnaires structured to meet the objectives of the study and an interview guide. Responses were tabulated, coded and processed by use of a computer Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 20.0 programme to analyze the data. It is believed the study will be significant to the management team of Public Service Commission as they will be able to use the findings as the base upon which to review challenges public servants go through in Kenya as they carry on their duties. Both the County Governments and National Government will get a glimpse of how to solve problems of employee dissatisfaction and also help them in developing policies and regulations governing the public healthcare sector as well as other public servants. The study found that there exists a positive association between: influence of work environment on performance of public servants in the health sector; influence of Management Practices on performance of public servants in the health sector; influence of work morale on performance of public servants in the health sector; and influence of Equipment and Tools on performance of public servants in the health sector to factors influencing the performance of public servants in the health sector in Kenya. This positive association suggests that when one increases, factors influencing the performance of public servants in the health sector in Kenya increase. The study therefore concludes that type of service, level of ICT development, attitude as a service provider and server provider characteristics are factors influencing the performance of public servants in the health sector in Kenya. The study recommends that there is need for the management of the hospitals should be flexible and create a free working environment where staff would freely air their views on services being offered; and there is need for the management of the hospitals should be flexible and create a free working environment where staff would freely air their views on services being offered. There is need to conduct a similar study which will attempt to find out the challenges facing public servants in the health sector in Kenya.