Malawi health sector employee census

The Ministry of Health, through the Centre for Social Research conducted a census of Human Resources in the Health (HRH) sector in November/December 2007. The key objectives of the census included obtaining primary HRH data and information in the form of a “snap-shot picture” of current availability, numbers, profiles, skills-mix, and distribution of trained health workers, including management and support staff, employed in registered public and private sector health facilities across all districts of Malawi. The HRH Data Census will help calculate and refine accurate and reliable HRH baseline data to facilitate effective sector-wide HRH planning, implementation and monitoring, within the scope of the HRH M&E Framework. The primary objective is to ensure that targeted and adequate policies, strategies and programmes are developed, implemented and monitored in order to address the current inadequacy and mal-distribution of HRH in the country.

Data collection took place in all the districts of the country between 20th November and 15th December, 2007 using 107 Research Assistants and 23 Supervisors and staff were interviewed in person. Health workers who were not interviewed during this period were followed up by the Ministry of Health in March and May 2008 utilising the services of Research Assistants provided by CSR, after the staff lists generated from the census were verified by DHOs. The results of the census presented in this report are therefore resulting from the data collection exercises that took place in November/December 2007 and March and May 2008. All the data from the census were entered in Epi info using computer facilities at the Centre for Social Research but analysis was done in SPSS. The analysis plan was guided by an indicator matrix that was provided by the MoHP at the start of the census.