The Relationship Between Work Engagement and the Performance of Health Workers at BLUD UPTD Puskesmas Mekar, Kendari City, in 2025

Community Health Centers play a strategic role in delivering primary health care services, where the performance of health workers is a crucial determinant of service quality. One important factor influencing performance is work engagement, which reflects a positive psychological state characterized by vigor, dedication, meaningful personal work, and effective communication. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between work engagement and the performance of health workers at BLUD UPTD community health center Mekar, Kendari City, in 2025. This research employed a quantitative analytic design with a cross-sectional approach. The population and sample consisted of all 84 health workers at BLUD UPTD Puskesmas Mekar, using a total sampling technique. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaires, while secondary data were obtained from institutional records. Data were analyzed using univariate and bivariate analyses, with the Chi-Square test applied at a significance level of α = 0.05. The results showed that the majority of respondents had high levels of work engagement and high performance. Statistical analysis indicated significant relationships between vigor and performance (p = 0.004), dedication and performance (p < 0.05), meaningful personal work and performance (p < 0.05), as well as communication and performance (p = 0.000). These findings demonstrate that higher levels of work engagement are associated with better performance among health workers. In conclusion, work engagement plays an essential role in enhancing health worker performance in primary health care settings. Strengthening organizational support, improving communication, and fostering meaningful work experiences are recommended as strategic efforts to improve the quality of health services at community health centers.