The Effect of Leadership Style on Midwives’ Performance, Southwest, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background

Leadership is the basis of professional and organizational commitment, teamwork and success. Midwives leaders’ leadership skills and capabilities have long been recognized as essential contributors to health services and outcomes. However, there are insufficient reports on the effect of leadership styles on midwives’ performance in African countries including Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effect of leadership style on midwives’ performance in public health Institutions, southwest Ethiopia.

Objective

This study aimed to determine the effect of leadership style on midwives’ performance, Southwest Ethiopia/2022.

Methods and Materials

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 121 midwives using a random sampling technique and a pre-tested questionnaire from May 19/2022-June to 6/2022. Data were entered into Epi-data version 4.4.2.1, edited, coded, categorized and cleaned before analysis. Data were analyzed using the SPSS version 24; and the results are presented in tables, and statements. Correlations and linear regressions were conducted to identify the relationship between leadership style and midwives’ performance.

Results

In this study, the autocratic leadership style was predominantly practiced by midwifery leaders with a mean score of 2.996 followed by democratic (Mean=2.632) and laissez-faire (Mean=2.49) leadership styles. Inferential statistics (Correlation) analysis revealed a positive relationship between democratic and laissez-faire leadership styles and a negative relationship between autocratic styles and midwives’ performance. Multiple linear regressions showed that both democratic (P=0.02) and laissez-faire leadership styles (P=0.00) had a positive effect where as autocratic leadership style (P=0.60) had a negative effect on midwives’ performance.

Conclusion and Recommendation

Autocratic Leadership is the most practiced leadership style in the study area. An autocratic leadership style was negatively related to midwives’ performance, while democratic and laissez faire styles were positively related. Therefore, health care leaders, administrators, supervisors and department heads should implement democratic and laissez-faire leadership styles to enhance midwives’ performance.

Keywords:

• leadership styles
• midwives’ performance
• public health institutions
• Ethiopia

Abbreviations

FMOH, Federal Ministry of health; HSR, Health Sector Reform; LMCS, Lower and middle-income countries; PI, Principal Investigator; PSC, Patient Safety Culture; SPSS, Statistical Package for Social Science; WHO, World Health Organization; SD, Strongly Disagree; D, Disagree; N, Neutral; A, Agree; SA, strongly Agree.

Data Sharing Statement

The raw data file could be provided for research purposes upon request of using the corresponding author contact address.

Acknowledgment

We acknowledge Jimma University, College Business and Economics, Department of management for providing the opportunity to conduct this study. We would like to thank all the Health institution administrators/heads for their willingness. It is also our pleasure to thank the participants, the data collectors and supervisors for their cooperation.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors declare that they have no competing interests in this work.