Volunteering for Health Services in Kintampo, Ghana: In Whose Interest?

Abstract

To address the challenge of health workers shortage, Ghana like many African countries, uses community volunteers to assist in the provision of certain health services to rural and hard-to-reach communities. However, few studies have been done in the country to ascertain the motivation for volunteering and the retention of these volunteers. Adopting the Homan’s Social Exchange Theory as its theoretical perspective, this study examines the motivation for volunteering and the retention of volunteers working on health-related activities at the community level in Ghana. Using a sequential mix-method design, a survey was carried out among 205 volunteers in Kintampo North and South districts. This was followed with twelve (12) In-depth Interviews among health workers and community opinion leaders and two (2) Focus Group Discussion sessions with volunteers. The results reveal that personal interest (32.9%) and community selection of volunteers through community leaders (30.2%) were the main motivation for volunteering and the retention of volunteers. Others were monetary and non-monetary incentives. The Ministry of Health, Ghana Health Service, NGOs and other volunteer user agencies are encouraged to strengthen monetary and non-monetary incentives as key motivation for volunteering and the retention of volunteers. Also, attention should be paid to community selection of volunteers through community leaders since it gives volunteers traditional authorization.