Predictors of Health Workforce Job Satisfaction in Primary Care Settings: Insights from Eight African Countries

Job satisfaction among health workers is crucial for retention and service delivery. In sub Saharan Africa, poor remuneration, limited professional development opportunities and inadequate working conditions impact satisfaction. This study examines job satisfaction predictors among health workers in primary healthcare across eight countries: Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Senegal, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. A cross- sectional study surveyed 1,711 health workers, assessing five dimensions: employer-employee relationships, remuneration and recognition, professional development, physical work environment, and supportive supervision. Analysis employed descriptive and multivariable regression methods. Employer-employee satisfaction was highest in Zambia (80%) and lowest in Tanzania (16%). Remuneration satisfaction was highest in Senegal (63%) and lowest in Ethiopia (2.3%). Uganda reported highest satisfaction with professional development (62%). Support supervision and physical work environment were high in Zambia (73%) and Uganda (40%) respectively. Key predictors of job satisfaction included strong employer-employee relationships (OR = 2.20, p < 0.001), fair remuneration (OR = 1.59, p = 0.002), conducive work environments (OR = 1.71, p < 0.001), and supervisory support (OR = 3.58, p < 0.001. Improving employer-employee relationships, remuneration, support supervision and conducive working conditions can enhance retention and performance. Country specific strategies are essential for a resilient health workforce is sub-Saharan Africa