Relationship between Direct Compensation and Quality Service Delivery in Public Hospitals in County Referral Hospitals in North Rift, Kenya

Abstract

Health is vital for the survival of any being, man being no exception. However, the manner in which the health service is delivered is of paramount importance for a healthy citizenry. Employee unrest has been witnessed in health care facilities and this has affected service delivery in public hospitals. The public health workers strike is aggravated by lack of implementation of collective bargaining agreement signed in 2013 and the key issue raised was compensation. The stakeholders involved seem to be doing very little to arrest the situation that has jeopardized service delivery in public hospitals across the country. The purpose of this study was to establish the effect of direct compensation on quality service delivery in public hospitals with a focus on county referral hospitals in North Rift Counties. This study was based on Expectancy Theory. The study used explanatory research design. The target population comprised of 481 health staff working in county referral hospitals in North Rift Counties. The sample size was 218 health staff. The study used stratified, purposive and simple random sampling to select respondents. Data was collected using questionnaires and interview schedule. Descriptive and inferential statistics was used to analyze data and presented in form of tables. Linear regression was used to test hypotheses. The study findings depicted that there was a positive significant relationship between direct compensation (β₁=0.162 and p<0.05) and quality service delivery. The direct compensation had a significant influence on service delivery.  The study recommends that county government should consider reviewing the salary pay on a yearly basis. The study will be significant to the County and National Government in coming up with policies and legislations on compensation and provision of quality service delivery in the health sector.