Influence of Monetary Incentives on Health Workers Performances in Yei River County- South Sudan

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of monetary incentives on health workers' performance in Yei River County, South Sudan. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted with a sample of 133 health workers selected from a population of 200 across 18 health facilities. Data was collected using Self-administered questionnaires, to assess motivational factors and performance outcomes. Quantitative analysis consisted of descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, regression analysis, and ANOVA was used. The Pearson correlation coefficient (r = 0.361, p = 0.002) indicates a moderate, statistically significant positive relationship between monetary incentives and health worker performance. The regression model demonstrated that monetary incentives explain approximately 13% (R² = 0.130, p = 0.002) of the variance in performance, confirming their significant influence. The ANOVA table indicate p = 0.002, further validated the model’s significance. Key challenges identified include inadequate and uneven distribution of incentives, lack of support such as housing and allowances, and poor policy review processes, leading to demotivation among health workers. The study findings highlight that financial rewards such as salaries, allowances, and performance-based incentives significantly influence motivation and service delivery, although support factors like accommodation and meals have limited impact. The study recommends implementing equitable, performance-driven incentive schemes and expanding benefits to all health workers to enhance motivation, reduce turnover, and improve healthcare outcomes. Overall, the results underscore the importance of structured monetary incentives in motivating health workers within resource-limited health systems.