Samuel Afari-Asiedu - Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo, Ghana
Kwaku Poku Asante - Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo, Ghana
Kodjo Senah - Department of Sociology, School of Social Science, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
Martha Ali Abdulai - Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo, Ghana
Stephen Afranie - Department of Sociology, School of Social Science, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
Emmanuel Mahama - Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo, Ghana
Edward Apraku Anane - Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo, Ghana
Mahama Abukari - Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo, Ghana
Martin Luther Darko - Department of Sociology, School of Social Science, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
Lawrence G. Febir - Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana Health Service, Kintampo, Ghana
Seth Owusu-Agyei - Institute of Health Research, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana

Background In many developing countries like Ghana, community volunteers assist in the provision of certain health services to rural and hard-to-reach communities. This study examined factors that influence the motivation and retention of community-based volunteers supporting with work on health-related activities at the community level in Ghana.   Methods Using a sequential mixed-method design, a cross-sectional survey was carried out among ۲۰۵ selected community-based volunteers in Kintampo North Municipality (KNM) and Kintampo South District (KSD) of Ghana between December, ۲۰۱۴ and February, ۲۰۱۵. Qualitative interviews, including ۱۲ in-depth interviews (IDIs) among health workers and community opinion leaders and ۲ focus group discussion (FGD) sessions with volunteers were conducted.   Results Personal interest (۳۲.۷%) and community leaders’ selection of volunteers (۳۰.۲%) were key initial reasons for volunteering. Monetary incentives such as allowance for extra duty (۸۸.۸%) and per diem (۴۹.۳%) and non-monetary incentives such as T-shirts/bags (۴۵.۴ %), food during training (۵۲.۷%), community recognition, social prestige and preferential treatment at health facilities were the facilitators of volunteers’ retention. There was a weak evidence (P = .۰۵۱) to suggest that per diem for their travels is a reason for volunteers’ satisfaction.   Conclusion Community-based volunteers’ motivation and retention were influenced by their personal interest in the form of recognition by community members and health workers, community leaders’ selection and other nonmonetary incentives. Volunteers were motivated by extra-duty allowance but not per diems paid for accommodation and feeding when they travel. Organizations that engage community volunteers are encouraged to strengthen the selection of volunteers in collaboration with community leaders, and to provide both non-monetary and monetary incentives to motivate volunteers.

Community Volunteers’ Motivation, Community Volunteers’ Retention, Community Volunteers’ Satisfaction, Monetary Incentives, Non-monetary Incentives