Motivation and incentives for maternal and neonatal health workers: a cross-country analysis of policies and strategies in Burkina Faso, Ghana and Tanzania

Abstract

Background: Motivation and incentives are critically important aspects for health workers’ efficiency particularly for those working in maternal and neonatal health services in developing countries.

Objective: To analyse maternal and neonatal health workers’ motivation policies and strategies in Burkina Faso, Ghana and Tanzania.

Methods: We conducted cross-sectional case studies using document review and key informant interviews in the three countries. Data analysis applied thematic content analysis.

Results: HRH policy documents reviewed provided context of health worker motivation. Although policy documents have wealth of on-going initiatives in health workers’ motivation and incentives in the three countries, still, there are deficiencies in strategies on motivation and incentives for health workers. The main deficit was lack of concrete plans for implementation of incentives as well as enforcement mechanism.

Conclusion: Motivation and incentives should be well defined and concrete plans for how to implement motivation and incentive policies need to be in place in the three countries.

Keywords: health worker, motivation, incentive, policy