Abstract:
Introduction: Turnover intention refers to an individual‟s perceived probability of staying or leaving an employing organization. Intentions are the most immediate determinants of actual behavior. Low health worker density is relatively poor health outcomes of the population. There is very few studies on turnover intention from low-income and lower middle-income countries and only a handful from upper middle-income countries.
Objective: the purpose of this study was to assess turnover intention and associated factors among health professionals‟ in the university of Gondar referral hospital.
Methods: Institutional based cross sectional study was conducted from March to April, 2014 at University of Gondar Referral Hospital on 394 health professionals using stratified random sampling techniques. The data were collected by using self administered questionnaire‟, entered using EPI INFO version 3.5.3, and analyzed by SPSS for windows version 20.0. Bi variable and multivariable logistic regression analysis also carried out to see the effect of independent variables on the outcome variable.
Result: The proportion of staff turnover intention in the hospital was 52.5%. Health professional have Degree and above academic rank [AOR=2.717(95%CI:1.192,6.190)]; nursing profession [AOR= 7.668(95%CI: 2.913,20.188)], laboratory profession[AOR 9.153,(95% CI: 2.925,28.636)]and other health professions[AOR=5.316(95% CI: 2.147,13.162)]; work experience of 2.1 to 5 years [AOR=1.937,(95% CI: 1.142,3.288)]; income level 2100 to 2259 [AOR =0.431(95% CI: 0.213,0.871)] and income level of 2260 to 2998 [AOR=0.421(95% CI: 0.263,0.875)] were significantly associated factors of turnover intention of health professional.
Conclusion and Recommendation: in this study, turn over intention of Health Professionals in the University of Gondar referral hospital was found to be high. Educational level, profession, work experience, income are significantly associated with intent to turnover. It is better attention should be given to low income health professionals and additional benefit should be given for more educated and experienced professionals
