Factors Associated with Intention of Serbian Public Health Workers to Leave the Job: A Cross-Sectional, Population-Based Study

Katica Tripković, Milena Šantrić-Milićević, Milena Vasić, Mirjana Živković-Šulović, Marina Odalović, Vesna Mijatović-Jovanović and Zoran Bukumirić
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Katica Tripković: Department for Analysis, Planning and Organization of Health Care, City Institute of Public Health Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Milena Šantrić-Milićević: Centre–School of Public Health and Health Management, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Milena Vasić: Faculty of Dentistry Pancevo, University Business Academy in Novi Sad, 26000 Pancevo, Serbia
Mirjana Živković-Šulović: Institute of Public Health of Serbia “Dr Milan Jovanović Batut”, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Marina Odalović: Department of Social Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Legislation, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Vesna Mijatović-Jovanović: Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Zoran Bukumirić: Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Statistics and Informatics, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 20, 1-14

Abstract: Recruitment and retention of public health workers (PHWs) is crucial for the optimal functioning of the public health system at a time of budget cuts and the threat of a pandemic. Individual and job-related variables were examined by univariate and multivariate logistic regression to identify predictors of the intention to leave a job during the COVID-19 outbreak among Serbian PHWs in 25 institutes of public health ( n = 1663 respondents, of which 73.1% were female). A total of 20.3% of PHWs intended to leave their current job within the next five years. Males and persons aged younger than 55 years who had additional practice were more likely to report an intention to leave their job than females, those older than 54 years and those without additional work. While uncertainty and fear of infection during the COVID-19 pandemic were almost perceived as job attractiveness, other job-related characteristics were identified as significant barriers to maintaining the sufficient capacity of qualified PHWs in the future. Authorities need to address these factors, including the following: the feeling of tension, stress or pressure, and unavailability of information during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as dissatisfaction with respect, valuation, and the job in general.

Keywords: public health workforce; intention to leave job; retention; public health institutes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:20:p:10652-:d:653868

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