Impact of Absenteeism Practices on the Performance of the Gabriel Toure, Point-G and Kati University Hospital Centers in 2023.

Abstract

Introduction: The availability and quality of care provided in a healthcare facility depend on the quality of its technical and human resources, as well as the actual presence of staff during working hours. The functioning of healthcare facilities in developing countries in general, and in Mali in particular, is characterized by numerous dysfunctions. In addition to these shortcomings, there is the issue of absenteeism, which affects the quality of care provided in healthcare facilities and the performance of hospitals. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of absenteeism on the performance of the Gabriel TOURE, Point-G and Kati University Hospitals in 2023. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional analytical study using a mixed-methods approach (quantitative and qualitative), a hypothetico-deductive method, and a positivist epistemological framework. The study included 309 staff members and 12 administrators. A structured questionnaire was administered to technical and support staff, and interviews were conducted with administrative staff. The target population was also subjected to direct observation. The qualitative data underwent content analysis using NVivo 11, and a statistical analysis with a significance level of 5% was performed on the quantitative data using SPSS 21. Results: Absenteeism, encompassing its components (lateness, justified absences, and unjustified absences), is a widespread problem in our hospitals. The study revealed an absenteeism rate of 30.72%. These poor practices stem primarily from family/social reasons, working conditions, demotivation, and a lack of commitment. The performance evaluation of university hospitals revealed a poor performance level of 38.37%. The study also demonstrated the influence of absenteeism on the performance of the University Hospital Centers of Point-G, Gabriel Touré, and Professor Bocar Sidy Sall in Kati (as measured by Fisher's exact test, which showed a score of 0.028 for absenteeism). Therefore, we affirm that absenteeism has an impact on the performance of the University Hospital Centers of Point-G, Gabriel Touré, and Professor Bocar Sidy Sall in Kati. Conclusion: Combating absenteeism in hospitals requires a new perspective and new practices. For this fight to be effective, it is necessary to shift from a curative approach (punishment) to a preventive approach targeting the root causes, known as determinants.