Does supervision improve health worker productivity? Evidence from the Upper East Region of Ghana

Jemima A. Frimpong, Stéphane Helleringer, John Koku Awoonor-Williams, Francis Yeji, James F. Phillips

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objectives To assess whether supervision of primary health care workers improves their productivity in four districts of Northern Ghana. Methods We conducted a time-use study during which the activities of health workers were repeatedly observed and classified. Classification included four categories: direct patient care; documentation and reporting; staff development and facility operations; and personal time. These data were supplemented by a survey of health workers during which patterns of supervision were assessed. We used logistic regression models with health facility fixed effects to test the hypothesis that supervision increases the amount of time spent providing direct patient care (productivity). We further investigated whether these effects depend on whether or not supervision is supportive. Results Direct patient care accounted for <25% of observations. In bivariate analyses, productivity was higher among midwives and in facilities with a high volume of care. Supervisory visits were frequent in those four districts, but only a minority of health workers felt supported by their supervisors. Having been supervised within the last month was associated with a significantly higher proportion of time spent on direct patient care (OR=1.57). The effects of supervision on productivity further depended on whether the health workers felt supported by their supervisors. Conclusion Supportive supervision was associated with increased productivity. Investments in supervision could help maximize the output of scarce human resources in primary health care facilities. Time-use studies represent an objective approach in monitoring the productivity of health workers and evaluating the impact of health-system interventions on human resources.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1225-1233
Number of pages9
JournalTropical Medicine and International Health
Volume16
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2011

Keywords

  • Ghana
  • Health workers
  • Productivity
  • Supervision
  • Time-use
  • Work sampling

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Parasitology
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Infectious Diseases

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