Background: The core competencies for the Bachelor’s program in Health Social Work were first developed in 2016. In 2023, the core competencies were revised in collaboration with international experts through the Fulbright Specialist Program. The updated framework includes nine general and 40 sub-competencies, with an emphasis on training social workers to provide person-centered, integrated services within the health sector. There is a need to further improve the current undergraduate curriculum by aligning with the updated core competencies. Aim: This study aimed to assess the alignment between the current undergraduate health social work curriculum and the revised core competencies. Through program mapping, we sought to identify overlaps, gaps, and areas for improvement that will inform future curriculum development. Materials and Methods: We employed content analysis and program mapping to evaluate 30 course curricula from the Health Social Work program. The selected courses included 6 General Foundation, 9 Professional Foundation, 12 Specialization, and 3 Field Practice courses. Each course’s learning objectives—categorized into knowledge, skills, and attitudes—were assessed against the revised competencies at three levels: Introducing, Applying, and Mastery. NVivo 14 software was used for data analysis. Result: Of the nine core competencies, three were well-integrated across the curriculum: (1) Assessment and (2) Intervention of individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations; and (3) Engage diversity and difference in practice. Conversely, competencies related to the evaluation of practice and policy engagement were underrepresented. Among the 40 sub-competencies, 11 were either missing or insufficiently addressed in the curriculum. Program mapping revealed that 38% of the courses addressed competencies at the Introducing level, 60% at the Applying level, and only 2% at the Mastery level. Learning outcomes in Professional Foundation and Specialization courses generally demonstrated a progression from introductory to applied learning. Conclusion 1. The revised core competencies are broadly aligned with the current curriculum. However, key areas—particularly evaluation of practice and engagement in policy practice—require further integration. 2. The curriculum also leans heavily toward introductory and applied levels, with limited opportunities for students to achieve mastery. Future curriculum revisions should focus on strengthening these underrepresented areas and enhancing learning outcomes at the mastery level.

Background: It is widely recognized that expenditures for medical treatment, rehabilitation services, and assistive devices for families with children with disabilities place a significant financial burden on household budgets, often making it difficult to meet basic daily needs. In recent years, extensive research has been conducted in countries with well-developed economic and social service systems to examine how disability affects family financial stability. Additionally, there is growing evidence on the relationship between financial burden and quality of life among families raising children with disabilities. Aim: To determine the correlation between financial strain and family quality of life (FQOL) among families raising children with disabilities. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between 2024 and 2025, involving 735 caregivers from both urban (Ulaanbaatar) and rural areas, recruited through governmental and non-governmental organizations. Data were collected using measures of average household income, the proportion of household income spent on disability-related expenses, self-reported financial burden, and the standardized Family Quality of Life questionnaire developed by Hoffman (2006), which includes five domains. Descriptive statistics and linear regression analyses were performed. Result: The average household income of participants was 2,905,277.16±2,141,515.84 MNT. Families with children diagnosed with epilepsy, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, and autism spectrum disorders spent a higher proportion of their annual income on related expenses. Each unit increase in the frequency of financial burden was associated with a 0.22-point decrease in overall family quality of life (p<0.001). Furthermore, a one-unit increase in the proportion of household income spent on child-related treatment and services was associated with a decrease in physical and material well-being by 0.007 points (p<0.001) and overall family quality of life by 0.003 points (p=0.037). Conversely, a 100,000 MNT increase in household income was associated with an increase in family quality of life scores (B=0.00249; p<0.001). Conclusion Household income and the proportion of income spent on disability-related expenses are significant factors influencing quality of life. Financial stress experienced by families with children with disabilities negatively affects family quality of life.

Background: As of 2024, approximately 39 million people worldwide are living with HIV, and approximately 1.3 million new infections are registered annually. In terms of human resources, there is an insufficient supply of doctors and specialists specializing in infectious diseases, and in some regions the workload per doctor is 1.5–2 times higher than the national average. Aim: To assess the current status of the structure and accessibility of human resources for STD, HIV, and AIDS care and services. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted using a cross-sectional design using quantitative and qualitative research methods. The “SARA-Service Availability and Readiness” standard questionnaire developed by WHO was used to assess the availability, type, location, and accessibility of STD, HIV, and AIDS care and services. The results of the study were processed using Microsoft Excel. Results: The current status of human resources providing STD, HIV, and AIDS care and services nationwide. A total of 56 STD, HIV, and AIDS doctors, 37 nurses, 10 junior doctors, 3 counselors, 16 senior laboratory doctors, and 33 laboratory technicians are working. The doctor-nurse ratio is 1:0.66. The average number of doctors and nurses working in the field of STDs, HIV, and AIDS is 0.21 per 10,000 population. The average number of doctors, junior doctors, and nurses providing STDs, HIV, and AIDS care and services per 10,000 population is 0.20. Provinces with a number of doctors, junior doctors, and nurses providing STDs, HIV, and AIDS care and services per 10,000 population is less than 0.10, which are provinces that do not have a qualified senior doctor or no doctor at all, that have a doctor but are not qualified but work alongside other doctors, and that do not have junior doctors or nurses. Six out of 21 provinces, or 29 percent, fall into the category of less than 0.10. The national STD, HIV, and AIDS care and services access index is 54.8. Conclusion When calculating the index of access to STD, HIV, and AIDS care and services based on indicators such as human resource adequacy and availability of clinics, access to care and services is poor.

Background: In recent years, work-life balance has become a pressing issue for healthcare workers in many developing countries around the world. An imbalance between work and personal life leads to psychological stress, health problems, loss of self-confidence, job dissatisfaction, and decreased work productivity due to an inability to concentrate. It also results in a decline in the quality of treatment and services. Furthermore, it increases the risk of medical errors and contributes to both physical and mental burnout, ultimately leading to resignation. Aim: The study analyzed the work-life balance and turnover intentions of employees at family health centers. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted using a cross-sectional model and a quantitative survey method. The work-life balance of employees at Family Health Centers was examined using the work-life balance assessment question naire developed by Hayman (2005), and turnover intentions were assessed using the standard questionnaire developed by Auerbach et al. (2014). The research was carried out in 2024. The study included 123 employees from 22 Family Health Centers located in the Bayangol, Bayanzurkh, Sukhbaatar, Songinokhairkhan, Khan-Uul, and Chingeltei districts of Ulaanbaatar. Results: Of the participants, 95.1% were female, with an average age of 35.2±9.5. Among them, 55.3% were doctors, 29.3% were nurses, 9.8% were health social workers, and 5.7% were other non-medical staff. The income of Family Health Center employees was found to be insufficient; 8.9% had incomes below the minimum subsistence level, and their ability to meet basic household needs was very limited. The results show that participants’ work negatively impacted their personal life (WIPL–23.5), and personal life negatively affected their work (PLIW–15), both of which scored high. Meanwhile, the positive interaction between work and personal life (WPLE–10.7) was low, indicating a disruption in their work-life balance. Working overtime was statistically significant in relation to work-life imbalance (p=0.038). As age and years worked at the current organization increased, the negative impact of work on personal life and personal life on work tended to decrease. Conclusion The work-life balance of Family Health Center employees has been disrupted. The level of work negatively affecting personal life and personal life negatively affecting work is high. 65% of Family Health Center employees are considering leaving their current organization, and 41% are considering leaving the healthcare field.

Background: There are 240 million children with disabilities worldwide, of whom 34 million have hearing and speech impairments; in Mongolia, 1,538 children are affected.¹, ³ Due to barriers in health care, education, employment, social services, and living environments, people with disabilities face limited opportunities to fully participate in social life. In addition to encountering greater obstacles, households with members with disabilities experience poverty levels twice as high as those without.⁴ While studies on children with disabilities in Mongolia have addressed issues related to education, health, and access to social services, little research has been conducted on family quality of life and the factors influencing it. Aim: This study aims to assess the quality of life of families with children who have hearing and speech impairments and to identify factors that influence it. Materials and Methods: The quality of life of families with children who have hearing and speech impairments was assessed using a standardized questionnaire developed by researchers at the University of Kansas, United States, which examines five core domains of family quality of life. A total of 120 parents and caregivers of children aged 0–18 years with hearing and speech impairments were included in the study Results: The mean family quality of life score among families of children with hearing and speech impairments was 3.79±0.61. Among the subdomains, the highest scores were reported for parental role (3.94) and family interactions (3.92), while emotional well-being received the lowest score (3.57). Factors influencing family quality of life included the presence of comorbid disabilities in the child, the caregiver’s self-rated health, stress level, family size, and adequacy of household income. Conclusion The quality of life of families raising children with hearing and speech impairments was found to be generally good. Factors influencing family quality of life included the type of child’s disability, caregiver’s age, health status, stress level, family size, and adequacy of household income.

Background: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the shortage of human resources in the healthcare sector has shown a growing trend year by year. Notably, there is a significant shortage, inadequate distribution, and high turnover of licensed professionals, influenced by various factors. Aim: This study aimed to examine healthcare workers’ turnover intentions and the influencing factors in referral healthcare organizations in Ulaanbaatar city. Materials and Methods: The study employed a cross-sectional study using quantitative research methods was conducted during 2024–2025. A total of 150 healthcare workers from central hospitals, maternity hospitals, and district health centers participated. The standardized questionnaire developed by Auerbach et al. (2013) was used to assess turnover intention. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 software. Results: Of the participants, 38% were from central hospitals, 33.3% from maternity hospitals, and 28.6% from district health centers. The majority (85.3%) were female. In terms of profession, 44.6% were doctors, 34.6% nurses, and 20.6% comprised paramedics, public health specialists, laboratory physicians, pharmacists, and midwives. Regarding retention, 78% of participants intended to continue working in the healthcare sector until retirement, while 35.3% expressed an intention to leave in the near future. Statistically significant differences in turnover intention were observed by age and profession. Younger employees demonstrated a higher intention to leave, whereas middle-aged employees with longer work experience showed greater stability within the healthcare sector. Additionally, 76% of participants emphasized salary and incentives, 68% workplace atmosphere, and 73.3% opportunities for career advancement as key factors influencing job retention. Conclusion The study revealed that one in five healthcare workers intends to leave the healthcare sector, while one in four is considering leaving their current organization. Turnover intention varied significantly by age and profession.

Background: It is stated in the Government Programme of 2016-2020 that public servants, including health care workers, shall be given a gradually increased salary based on their skill, dexterity, workload, and productivity, and such increase started from 2018 as planned. In the health sector of our country, regarding demand and regulation of the programme, the change shall be made that the system for median salary of physicians and overall staff employed at hospitals gets even constructive, and the required human resource for the sector shall be prepared. Thus, inferring from these claims, median salary, real wage, and socioeconomic condition are in critical need for further evaluation. Objective: To examine the current socio-economic condition of health care workers, and to study the influencing factors at play. Methods: In this study, we used quantitative and qualitative methods. In the survey, we involved 655 health care workers from 6 family health centers, 2 district hospitals, 3 health centers (district-based) in Songinokhairkhan, Sukhbaatar, and Baganuur districts; and Provincial hospital, regional diagnosis and health center, 16 soum health centers from Khovd, Uvs, Arkhangai, Bulgan, Khentii, Dornod, Umnugovi, and Dornogovi provinces, along with 3 National specialized health centers and 1 National central hospital. As for data gathering for the qualitative analysis, 30 focus group interviews and 47 key informant interviews were conducted for the purpose of examining socioeconomic condition, real wage sufficiency of health care workers. Results: Average household income of study participants was 1,880,269 tugrik, the real wage was 1,073,065 tugrik, and the overall household is seen to be composed of 2 different sources on average, namely, self-wage and the income coming from family members or supplement of Child Money Programme. It has come to notice that 19.5% of the participants have lower than average living standard, 89.2% have 2 different loans (mortgage, auto loan or mobile application based loans). Material deprivation index is seen to be 2.73, hence deemed as insufficient. In order to increase the real wage of those workers, it shall be taken into consideration that the basic salary is low, and some financial supplements need to be given. Furthermore, the performance based funding system of health sector is seen to be in need of improvement. Conclusion Real wage of the health care workers is, thus, insufficient. The fact that one in every five workers in this sector have lower than average living standard, and the material deprivation index is 2.73 implying that the financial lives of health care workers are immensely fragile.

Background: Psychosocial work environment predicts a range of health risks including sickness absence, poor self rated health, and depression. Objective: To identify association between psychosocial work environment and health related indicators among health care workers in Mongolia Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between January and April, 2023. 655 health care workers from Ulaanbaatar city and 4 aimags were involved. Psychosocial work environment was assessed by the Effort-reward imbalance model. As for the health related indicators, we used the SF-12 questionnaire and sickness absence report. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed.
The study was approved by Medical Ethics Review Committee on January 18, 2023 (#23/02). Results: 1 in every 2 health care workers experience effort-reward imbalance at work and rated their health as poor. In average, 32.7 percent of the study participants took 16.6 sick days for the last 1 year. The study identified poor physical (44.7±8.6) and mental health functioning (42.1±9.8) among study participants. Physical functioning was lower among nurses whereas mental health functioning was lower among physicians. Conclusion Poor health related indicators among health care workers are associated with adverse psychosocial work environment such as effort-reward imbalance and high effort and low reward