Health Worker Retention Assessment Results Presented in Uganda

In November, George Mgomella, from CapacityPlus associate partner African Population & Health Research Center, and Grace Chee, from partner Abt Associates, presented the results of the Uganda health worker retention preference survey to representatives from several ministries, faith-based organizations, and other partners.

CapacityPlus developed the preference survey using the discrete choice experiment (DCE) methodology. Mgomella demonstrated the application of the user-friendly rapid DCE tool for selecting health worker attraction and retention interventions.

In addition, Dr. Charles Matsiko from the Uganda Capacity Program was trained in the rapid DCE survey toolkit to cascade the skills to the ministries and faith-based organizations’ medical boards. The Uganda Capacity Program is an IntraHealth International-led associate award of the Capacity Project, the predecessor to CapacityPlus.

In order to conduct the cost calculations of the priority retention strategies identified by the DCE survey, Chee collected and analyzed data from the Ministry of Health and other relevant ministries, and presented the results of the DCE and costing work at the Human Resources for Health Technical Working Group meeting. The work was well received, with members agreeing that these results help to provide decision-making guidance.

Photo by Laura Wurts. (Mbarara University of Science and Technology in Uganda, one of the DCE pilot sites)