Determinants of community health volunteers in Balikpapan City: The role of incentives, motivation, and retention

Rina Marini (Magister of Public Health, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Mulawarman, Samarinda, East Kalimantan)
Ratih Wirapuspita Wisnuwardani (Department of Public Health Nutrition, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Mulawarman, Samarinda City, East Kalimantan)
Nur Rohmah (Department of Public Health Promotion, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Mulawarman, Samarinda City, East Kalimantan)
Sukisno Selamet Riadi (Master of Manajement Program, Faculty of Economic and Business , Mulawarman University, Samarinda, East Kalimantan)
Bambang Irawan (Master of Public Administration Study Program, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Mulawarman University , Samarinda, East Kalimantan)
Iriyani Kamaruddin (Department of Public Health Nutrition, Faculty of Public Health, Mulawarman University, Samarinda, East Kalimantan)

AcTion: Aceh Nutrition Journal
Vol 11, No 3 (2026): September

Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) play a critical role in supporting stunting reduction programs; however, their performance in Balikpapan City remains suboptimal, as reflected in low family assistance coverage and increasing local stunting trends. This study aimed to analyze the influence of cash incentives, non-cash incentives, motivation, and retention on CHV performance. A cross-sectional study was conducted from March to July 2025, involving 603 CHVs, with 235 respondents selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire that had undergone validity and reliability testing, and the variables were measured based on predefined operational definitions. Data analysis included univariate, bivariate (chi-square), and multivariate (logistic regression) tests. The results showed that retention and marital status were significantly associated with the CHV performance. Respondents with high retention had significantly higher odds of good performance (OR = 8.217; 95% CI: 3.640-18.549; p < 0.001), and marital status also showed a significant effect (OR = 2.629; 95% CI: 1.090-6.342; p = 0.031). In contrast, cash incentives, non-cash incentives, and motivation were not significantly associated with performance in the final model. In conclusion, retention is the most dominant factor influencing CHV performance. Therefore, strengthening CHV performance requires strategies focused on sustaining volunteer engagement and retention, alongside supportive non-financial mechanisms.