Authors: Greenspan JA, McMahon SA, Chebet JJ, Mpunga M, Urassa DP, Winch PJ.
There is a renewed interest in community health workers (CHWs) in Tanzania, but also a concern that low motivation of CHWs may decrease the benefits of investments in CHW programs. This study aimed to explore sources of CHW motivation to inform programs in Tanzania and similar contexts. Sources of CHW motivation were identified at the individual, family, community, and organizational levels. At the individual level, CHWs are predisposed to volunteer work and apply knowledge gained to their own problems and those of their families and communities. Families and communities supplement other sources of motivation by providing moral, financial, and material support, including service fees, supplies, money for transportation, and help with farm work and CHW tasks. The organizational level provides motivation in the form of stipends, potential employment, materials, training, and supervision, but inadequate remuneration and supplies discourage CHWs. Policy-makers and program managers should consider the burden that a lack of remuneration imposes on the families of CHWs. In addition, CHWs’ intrinsic desire to volunteer does not preclude a desire for external rewards. Rather, adequate and formal financial incentives and in-kind alternatives would allow already-motivated CHWs to increase their commitment to their work.
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Resource Topic: Community Health Workers/Volunteers, Human Resources Management/Workforce Development, Job aids, Motivation/incentives, Recruitment and Retention, Supervision, Sustainability
Resource Type: Journal articles, Research
Year: 2013
Region:
Country: Tanzania
Publisher May Restrict Access: No