Impact of employee health and safety practices on turnover in the selected city councils: A study of Mbale and Jinja, Eastern Uganda.
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: This study investigates the relationship between employee health and safety practices and turnover rates in Ugandan city councils, focusing on Mbale and Jinja municipalities. Employing a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design, data were collected from 341 public sector employees through structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Quantitative analysis revealed moderate implementation of health and safety protocols (mean = 2.86/5), with critical deficits in protective equipment provision (73% unmet needs) and annual safety training (68% non-compliance). Correlation analysis demonstrated a strong inverse relationship between health/safety practices and turnover intentions (r=−0.719r = -0.719r=−0.719, p<0.01p < 0.01p<0.01), while linear regression indicated that health and safety measures accounted for 51.6% of turnover variance (β=−0.719\beta = -0.719β=−0.719, p<0.01p < 0.01p<0.01). Qualitative findings highlighted systemic failures in hazard mitigation and policy enforcement, exacerbating attrition risks. Grounded in Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory, the results position health and safety as critical hygiene factors in low-resource public sector contexts. These findings underscore the urgency of institutionalizing occupational safety standards to mitigate turnover in Uganda’s local governments.
Institution: Kampala International University
Language: English
Subfield: Occupational Therapy
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4413081718