HEALTH WORKER’S PERCEPTION OF THE USE OF STRIKES AS A TOOL FOR DISPUTE RESOLUTION IN LAGOS STATE NIGERIA
*1Adebimpe Wasiu Olalekan, 2Owolade Oladepo Adeniran and 3Adebimpe Mujidat Adebukola
*1 Department of Community Medicine, Osun State University, Osogbo,Nigeria.
2Corporate Planning, Training and Services Department, LAUTECH Teaching Hospital Osogbo
3Ministry of Finance, Osun State Secretariat, Osogbo Nigeria
e-mail: lekanadebimpe@yahoo.com, lekanadebimpe@gmail.com
ABSTRACTS
The use of strikes by health care workers in settling disputes with their employers is a common occurrence in this part of the world. As patients suffer from the aftermath of short or long term interruption of health care services, this study examines the intricacies behind such strategies and ways of strike prevention in future. Descriptive cross sectional study of causes, implications and solution to strike actions among 400 health care workers using multi stage sampling method in sample selection Research instruments were semi structured, self administered questionnaires, and data was analyzed using the SPSS soft wares. Common causes of strikes include demand for better salary and welfare in 372(93.0%), and disagreement on some work related principles 211(52.8%). Three hundred and seventy two (97.0%) believed that it disrupts health care services, discharges of patients from hospital without completeness of care 321(80.3%), limited care to clients 382(95.5%), and high rate of referrals to private hospitals 216 (54.0%). Ways of averting frequent strikes include both financial and professional motivation of health care staffs 391(97.8%), and strengthening of the health systems 219 (54.8%).Strikes are preventable ways of dispute resolution in the health care system. Health managers should carry employees along in issues that have to do with their welfare and the health systems
Keywords: Strikes, Health Care Workers, Health Systems