Staff Satisfaction at a Private Hospital in Mogadishu, Somalia: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Abstract

Abstract:Background: Staff satisfaction is a key determinant of workforce performance, service quality,and staff retention in healthcare settings. In fragile and post-conflict contexts such as Somalia,empirical evidence on staff satisfaction—particularly from private healthcare facilities—remainslimited.To assess levels of staff satisfaction across multiple workplace domains and identifyrelative strengths and areas for improvement among employees at Royal Hospital in Mogadishu,Somalia.Methods: An analytical cross-sectional survey was conducted among staff at Royal Hospital.All eligible employees were invited to participate (N = 220), and 110 staff completed astructured self-administered questionnaire (response rate = 50.0%). Staff satisfaction wasmeasured using a 24-item instrument covering eight domains and rated on a 5-point Likert scale.Domain scores were calculated as mean item scores. Descriptive statistics summarizedparticipant characteristics and satisfaction outcomes, and internal consistency was assessed usingCronbach’s alpha.Results: Overall staff satisfaction was high, with mean scores clustering toward the upper end ofthe scale. The highest satisfaction was observed for job role and workload, work environmentand teamwork, and overall satisfaction (all mean scores > 4.3). Moderate satisfaction wasreported for leadership and communication, recognition, fairness, and learning and careerdevelopment. Compensation and staff welfare recorded the lowest mean score (3.57), indicatinga relative area of concern. The full satisfaction scale demonstrated excellent internal consistency(Cronbach’s α = 0.939).Conclusion: Staff at Royal Hospital reported generally high levels of satisfaction, reflectingstrong organizational foundations in role clarity, teamwork, and the work environment.However, comparatively lower satisfaction with compensation and welfare highlights priorityareas for targeted human resource interventions. Routine staff satisfaction assessments maysupport evidence-based management strategies to sustain a motivated healthcare workforce inresource-constrained settings.