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BMC Health Services Research
Published in: BMC Health Services Research 1/2016

Open Access 01-12-2016 | Research article

Inspiring health worker motivation with supportive supervision: a survey of lady health supervisor motivating factors in rural Pakistan

Authors: Fauziah Rabbani, Leah Shipton, Wafa Aftab, Kashif Sangrasi, Shagufta Perveen, Aysha Zahidie

Published in: BMC Health Services Research | Issue 1/2016

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Abstract

Background

Community health worker motivation is an important consideration for improving performance and addressing maternal, newborn, and child health in low and middle-income countries. Therefore, identifying health system interventions that address motivating factors in resource-strained settings is essential. This study is part of a larger implementation research project called Nigraan, which is intervening on supportive supervision in the Lady Health Worker Programme to improve community case management of pneumonia and diarrhea in rural Pakistan. This study explored the motivation of Lady Health Supervisors, a cadre of community health workers, with particular attention to their views on supportive supervision.

Methods

Twenty-nine lady health supervisors enrolled in Nigraan completed open-ended structured surveys with questions exploring factors that affect their motivation. Thematic analysis was conducted using a conceptual framework categorizing motivating factors at individual, community, and health system levels.

Results

Supportive supervision, recognition, training, logistics, and salaries are community and health system motivating factors for lady health supervisors. Lady health supervisors are motivated by both their role in providing supportive supervision to lady health workers and by the supervisory support received from their coordinators and managers. Family support, autonomy, and altruism are individual level motivating factors.

Conclusions

Health system factors, including supportive supervision, are crucial to improving lady health supervisor motivation. As health worker motivation influences their performance, evaluating the impact of health system interventions on community health worker motivation is important to improving the effectiveness of community health worker programs.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Inspiring health worker motivation with supportive supervision: a survey of lady health supervisor motivating factors in rural Pakistan
Authors
Fauziah Rabbani
Leah Shipton
Wafa Aftab
Kashif Sangrasi
Shagufta Perveen
Aysha Zahidie
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Health Services Research / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 1472-6963
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-016-1641-x

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