| dc.description.abstract | Kenya loses, on a daily basis, her best academicians, scientists, doctors, nurses,
accountants, and other sought after professionals, through brain drain, into other
richer countries. The question is: Why? The impact of the problem is detrimental to
the development of the African continent. It also seems to be a continuous issue
without any trend of ceasing. This study explores causes of brain drain in the public
health sector in Kenya. In particular, this study aims at establishing the factors
influencing brain drain at the Kenyatta National Hospital and ultimately pinpoint
possible solutions to stem brain drain. It will also elaborate on some already
identified possible solutions to the problem. Trained human resources are
fundamental for well-functioning health systems, and the lack of health workers
undermines public sector capacity to meet population health needs. Existing research
on human capital migration in the public sector in Kenya has focused on documenting
the number of healthcare professionals migrating to developed countries, other have
focused on effects of brain drain. This study focused on causes of brain drain in the
public health sector in Kenya. The objective of this study was to establish the factors
that influence brain drain at the Kenyatta National Hospital and to recommend
possible solutions to curb brain drain. This study documents the factors that contribute
to brain drain among health professionals in Kenya. This is descriptive study, which is
based on conceptual analysis, literature reviewing, and theory building. The approach
was to review relevant literature using electronic search and what other authors have
said about the subject, to collect data using an interview guide and to analyze it using
content analysis approach The results can then provide a policy framework to advice
on how to stem brain at the Kenyatta National Hospital and the public health sector as
a whole. The findings of this study that of most of the health professionals desire to
migrate. This is due to two factors; home country conditions that push them to leave
and the actions and conditions in developed countries that attract them. From the
findings of the study, brain drain could pose a serious problem to the management of
public health institutions in Kenya. There is therefore need for intensive consultations
and consensus building between all stakeholders. In order to stem brain drain,
concerted effort need to be put on worker motivation and retention, career planning
and job satisfaction programmes. There also is need for the public health sector to
keep records of all professionals; this will play a critical role in planning human
resource requirement of the health sector in Kenya | en |
