Motivational Factors in Nurse and Midwife Participation in NGO-led Maternal and Child Health Training in Rural Northern Ghana: A Comparative Study.

Key to maternal and child health successes in Ghana are frontline practitioners' skills and dedication, and NGOs are instrumental in providing those trainings. Nevertheless, engagement of the NGOs are varied, making it important to understand what incentivizes nurses and midwives to engage in maternal and child health programs. This article investigates motivational factors influencing nurses and midwives participation in NGO-driven training programs in rural Northern Ghana. In a mixed-methods design, surveys were administered to 312 nurses and midwives from 12 districts of the Upper East, North East, Northern, and Savannah regions and supplemented with qualitative interviews. To determine important predictors, quantitative data were included in multivariate regression analysis. Results indicate that extrinsic and intrinsic motivators influence participation. Monetary incentives were the most common consideration for a person (78.4%), with cash payments receiving a preference over mobile transfers due to delays (61.2%). Accommodation quality (46.8%) and travel reimbursement (52.3%) also impacted attendance. Motivators from within were training certificates (65.7%), mentorship opportunities (72.8%), and positive perceptions of improvements in patient care (59.6%). Programs conducted in the city offered added psychological and social benefits, such as respite from a pattern of regular activity and contact with urban life. The regression analysis indicates that financial incentives (β = 0.42, p < 0.01) and professional development (β = 0.38, p < 0.01) are significant predictors, moderated by payment strategy, training location, experience, and type of facility. In conclusion, financial rewards and training experiences were found to be the most powerful reasons, indicating that NGOs should promptly pay cash and conduct city-based training for nurses and trainees to increase motivation more widely among health workers.