Dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master in Technology: Emergency Medical Care, Durban University of Technology, 2010. / South Africa currently has 1631 registered Advanced Life Support (ALS) paramedics
to tend to the pre-hospital advanced life support needs of just under 50 million
people. Compared to the globally accepted ratio of 1:10 000, the number of ALS
paramedics in South Africa is grossly inadequate. The current shortage of South
African ALS paramedics may be ascribed to migration. However, although literature
on health worker migration in general abounds, there is a marked lack of national or
international statistics and information on migration of ALS paramedics and their
migration. Current measures to manage migration appear to be ineffective. The
success of future strategies is dependent on an understanding of the migration of
South African ALS paramedics - an understanding that presently does not exist.
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to describe the migration of South African
undergraduate Advanced Life Support paramedics who qualified between 2001 and
2006, and to then develop a framework of retention strategies. In particular, it
determined the extent and nature of their migration, identified the factors that have
contributed to their decision to work outside South Africa and identified strategies to
retain or encourage the return of ALS paramedics to practice exclusively in South
Africa.
Methods
The study consisted of a two-phase mixed method descriptive survey. Paramedics
with ALS undergraduate diplomas who qualified in South Africa between 2001 and
2006 made up the study population. Quantitative data (Phase One) was obtained
from a web-based survey distributed to the accessible population (N=97). Thereafter,
qualitative data (Phase Two) was gathered through in-depth interviews with selected
information rich participants (n=10) also from within the accessible population.
Through methodological triangulation, data from Phase One and Phase Two were
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integrated to obtain an in-depth understanding of South African ALS paramedic
migration.
Results
Significant differences existed in the distribution of age (p=0.035), and years of
experience post-graduation (p=0.007) and the ALS paramedic deemed most likely to
migrate were individuals between the ages of 21 – 30. 15 (55%) of the participants
working outside the country were engaged in short term contracts while all 24 (100%)
of participants working inside South Africa were permanently employed. 18 (75%) of
respondents working inside South Africa intended migrating, 12 (67%) of which
intended to do so within 0 to 2 years. Nine major factors or reasons for migration
were identified by participants. Working conditions, physical security and economic
considerations were ranked as the top three major factors most likely to contribute to
the decision or intended decision to migrate.
This study also found five primary decisions that likely emerge during the life of a
South African ALS Paramedic. The outcome of each decision is a result of facilitators
weighted against barriers. Facilitators are factors that supported each of the primary
decisions while barriers weakened or rejected them. Findings indicated that many
barriers existed which rejected or weakened the decision of ALS paramedics to work
inside South Africa, return to South Africa or remain in South Africa. On the
converse, a vast number of facilitators existed which spurred continued migration.
Conclusions
As the decision to migrate may be conceptualised as early on as when individuals
decide to become ALS paramedics, the constructs of return and retention strategies
have to extend as far as revising recruitment policies. Preference or places into
training programmes should be given to individuals who are less inclined to migrate,
these include: military personnel; those already employed in the EMS, older mature
candidates; candidates with families that have already settled in SA; and recognition
of prior learning (RPL) candidates who are predominately obligated by contract to
remain in South African EMSs.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:dut/oai:localhost:10321/599 |
| Date | January 2010 |
| Creators | Govender, Pregalathan |
| Contributors | Grainger, Linda D., Naidoo, Raveen |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 268 p |
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