Missing in action: teacher and health worker absence in developing countries

Area of Science:

• Public health
• Education policy
• Development studies

Background:

• Teacher and health worker absenteeism is a persistent challenge in resource-limited settings.
• Accurate data on facility-based staffing is crucial for effective policy interventions.
• Previous research often relies on self-reported data, which may be biased.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify teacher and health worker presence in primary schools and health clinics.
• To provide objective data on facility staffing in six diverse low- and middle-income countries.
• To identify potential gaps in service delivery due to staff absence.

Main Methods:

• Conducted unannounced facility visits by trained enumerators.
• Collected data on the presence of teachers and health workers at primary schools and health clinics.
• Surveyed facilities in Bangladesh, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Peru, and Uganda.

Main Results:

• Enumerators recorded the presence or absence of staff during unannounced visits.
• Data collection focused on primary schools and health facilities.
• Findings varied across the six surveyed countries.

Conclusions:

• Objective measurement of staff presence is feasible and essential.
• Understanding absenteeism patterns is critical for improving educational and health outcomes.
• Results provide a baseline for future interventions and monitoring.