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. 2025 Aug 2;25(1):1018.
doi: 10.1186/s12913-025-13210-w.

Factors influencing attrition of health professionals in the Upper East Region of Northern Ghana

Samuel T Chatio  1   2 , Irene Kuwolamo  3 , Nana Akosua Ansah  3 , Lucy O Ababio  3 , Mathilda Aku Tsifodze  3 , James Akazili  4   5 , Boakye Boateng  6 , Patrick Ansah  3
Affiliations

Factors influencing attrition of health professionals in the Upper East Region of Northern Ghana

Samuel T Chatio et al. BMC Health Serv Res. .

Abstract

Introduction: Despite the high healthcare needs in rural regions in Ghana, it is a challenge for health managers to attract and retain healthcare professionals in these regions including the Upper East Region, which negatively affects health service delivery. This study investigated factors contributing to attrition of health professionals in the Upper East Region of Northern Ghana.

Methodology: The study used a qualitative research approach where 92 in-depth interviews were conducted with participants between June and August, 2023. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and coded into themes using QSR Nvivo 12 software before thematic content analysis.

Results: Participants agreed that health worker attrition in the Upper East Region was a problem. Difficulty for health workers to obtain study leave for further studies, administrative lapses, linked with lack of respect and appreciation, family issues and poor working conditions were the main factors contributing to health worker attrition. However, health worker motivation, approval of study leave for qualified health staff, provision of medical equipment/ logistics and health managers showing respect and appreciation to frontline healthcare workers were strategies recommended by participants to address health worker attrition.

Conclusion: Views shared by stakeholders in our study suggest that health worker attrition is a serious issue affecting service delivery in the Upper East Region. Thus, it is important for health managers to implement appropriate strategies including those recommended in this study towards addressing the issue, to improve healthcare.

Keywords: Health worker attrition; Northern Ghana; Upper East region.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The protocol was reviewed and approved by the Navrongo Health Research Centre (NHRC) Institutional Review Board (ID: NHRCIRB5l5) before the commencement of the study. Informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to the interviews. Before the interview, data collectors informed participants about the purpose of the study, data collection procedures as well as benefits and risks for taking part in the study. The consent document included the names of study investigators and that of the NHRC Institutional Review Board administrator. Two consent forms were signed by each participant and endorsed by the lead investigator. One of the signed consent forms was given to the participant and the other one was kept by the study investigators. To ensure confidentiality of information, codes were assigned to study participants and used in all study related documents. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Abbreviations: CHAG Christian Health Association of Ghana. CHPS Community-Based Health Planning and Services. DDHS District Director of Health Services. DPHN District Public Health Nurse. HRM Human Resource Manager. HRH Human Resources for Health. IDI In-depth Interviews. RAs Research Assistants. In accordance with Helsinki ethics declaration, the study team strictly complied with all ethical principles, which includes being faithful, just, not causing harm and respecting autonomy as well as confidentiality of participants’ personal information. Throughout the study, the team adhered to all ethical procedures and guidelines. List of legends: S1: Raw data. S2: Interview guides.

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