This archive report was first published on 2 August 2019.
Published on August 2, 2019, a report by the National Council for Population and Development (NCPD) has shed light on the issue of absenteeism in Kenyan health facilities.
The report, which focused on health service delivery, found that 52.8% of health providers were absent from work. This rate was higher in the public sector, with 56.7% of health providers absent, compared to 47.5% in the private sector.
According to the report, doctors had the highest absenteeism rate, with 60.7% of doctors absent from work. Nurses followed closely, with 54.5% absent, while clinical officers had an absenteeism rate of 49.5%.
The report also found that urban health providers were more likely to be absent than their rural counterparts, except for dispensaries and clinics. Health workers from public facilities had higher absenteeism rates than those from private facilities.
Among the counties, West Pokot had the highest absenteeism rate, with 68% of health providers absent, while Makueni had the lowest rate, with 25% of health providers absent.
The report's findings have significant implications for the delivery of healthcare services in Kenya. County governments are advised to establish systems for tracking staff availability during facility operation hours to reduce absenteeism.
