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DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH MEDICINE

ACADEMIC PROGRAMME: JOURNAL CLUB

2022

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�DETERMINANTS OF APPROVED INCAPACITY LEAVE AMONG HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN A SOUTH AFRICAN PROVINCIAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT��

Dr NC BLAAUW

MBCHB

Graduated in 2020 at

Walter Sisulu University (WSU)

Electronic Reference: Ramsamy R, Ditlopo P, Rispel LC. Determinants of approved incapacity leave among health professionals in a South African provincial health department. Occup Health Southern Afr.2021;27(6): 200-206

Date:10 February 2022

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Aim of this study

To examine the determinants of the approved incapacity leave among health professionals in a South African provincial health department.

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Introduction

Absenteeism vs Sickness Absenteeism.
Absenteeism leads to shortage of staff available to provide better and best quality health care services, thus resulting in poor health care system.
There are various contributing factors to absenteeism ranging from poor working environment to lack of supervision.
Public health care workers are entitled to 36 working days normal sick leave with full pay in a sick leave cycle.
There has been a high percentage rate of absenteeism reported among employees in Gauteng hospitals.

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Methods

The period of the study was 1 January to 31 December 2016.
A total number of 46 812 Health professionals employed in GDoH was selected.
Information was obtained from records of PERSAL dataset of approved incapacity during that period.
A series of various tasks were carried out to produce results.
The information gathered was then analysed using special tools including “Chi-square test’’ and “multivariable logistic regression model” to determine the effects of the exposed variables on the incapacity leave.
Afterwards there was an elimination of a certain variable from the regression tool.

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Results of the study

As in table1, out of the 46 812 health professionals who were employed in the GDoH in 2016, there were only 1 155 incapacity leaves approved for 518 health professionals in the period.

- As in table 3,

majority were females and the largest category of health professions was professional nurses at average age of 46.
The most medical reasons for incapacity leave were mental disorders in the age of 35 years and musculoskeletal system disorders between the age 45-54 years.

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As in table 3, the likelihood of the incapacity leave approvals was directly proportional with age, and Health professionals working in Sedibeng, Johannesburg and districts had highest number of approved incapacity leave than those working at Ekhurhuleni.

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Discussion

Low percentage (1.1%) in the large number within 1 year period.
In-availability of previous studies published to look at the trend.
The timing of the study period and different communities in which study was based might have had an influence on the low proportion.
Females predominance than males.
Increasing age with high rate of sick leaves.
Professional nurses taking the lead, more especially at larger district level.

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conclusion

This study has depicted an important relationship between variables looked at and incapacity leave approvals.
Therefore, it is clear that employers need to actively manage sick absenteeism and poor performance in respect of their employees.
Proper recording and routine analysis of incapacity leave approval data through PERSAL is important and can help improve management of this type of leave in our setting.