Self-reported turnover intention and associated factors among health professionals in Kafa Zone, Southwest Ethiopia

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess turnover intention and its associated factors among health professionals in Kafa Zone, Southwest, Ethiopia, 2018. METHODS: Cross-sectional study design relied on institution that was employed from 1–30 May 2019. Questionnaires were distributed to 427 participants who were selected by simple random sampling technique from selected health facilities. Epi Data Statistical software version 3.1 for data entry and Statistical Package for Social Sciences software version 21.0 for data analysis were used. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with turnover intention. Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were used to examine associations, and a p-value less than 0.05 was considered significant. RESULT: Overall, 427 questionnaires were distributed, and 389 were returned making 91.1% response rate. Majority of the respondents were between the age of 21 and 30 years and more than half were male. More than half, 219 (56.3%), of the participants reported that they intended to leave their institution. Being female (adjusted odds ratio 2.65, 95% confidence interval (1.62–4.33)), married (adjusted odds ratio 0.57, 95% confidence interval (0.34–0.96)), degree holders (adjusted odds ratio 0.55, 95% confidence interval (0.34–0.89)), autonomous (adjusted odds ratio 0.51, 95% confidence interval (0.31–0.84) and not satisfied with living place condition (adjusted odds ratio 1.68, 95% confidence interval (1.0–2.83)) were found to have statistically significant association with intention to leave among health professionals in Kafa Zone. CONCLUSION: Turnover intention of health professionals was high in study area. Sex, educational status, marital status, autonomous, and living place condition were the identified predictors of turnover intention among health professionals. The health managers and stakeholders at different levels should have a discussion session with staff to cut the intention to leave the organization.