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Factors influencing career preference in mental health among nursing students and intern nurses in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

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  • Sofia Samson Sanga
  • Edith A M Tarimo
  • Joel Seme Ambikile

Abstract

Worldwide, the prevalence of mental health, neurological, and substance use (MNS) disorders has been on the rise and remains a significant leading cause of disease burden. Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) shares a fair burden of MNS with depressive disorders being the most prevalent in this region. A huge treatment gap for MNS exists, with lack of appropriate human resources and expertise for service delivery being one of the key barriers. Pre-service and in-service training plays a vital role in developing human resource for mental health. However, low or lack of career interests in mental health has been documented among students. A cross-sectional study was conducted between April and May 2021 to determine factors influencing career preference in mental health among nursing students and intern nurses at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) and Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) respectively in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Sixty-eight (68) nursing students at MUHAS who had covered the mental health nursing course and 83 intern nurses who had rotated at the MNH Psychiatry and Mental Health department participated in the study using consecutive sampling. A pre-tested structured self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data, followed by analysis with version 25 of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. The Chi-square test and logistic regression were performed to determine factors associated with career preference. One third (33.1%; n = 50) of participants had career preference in mental health nursing. Living with a person with mental illness (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 4.350; 95% CI: 1.958, 9.664; p

Suggested Citation

  • Sofia Samson Sanga & Edith A M Tarimo & Joel Seme Ambikile, 2023. "Factors influencing career preference in mental health among nursing students and intern nurses in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania," PLOS Global Public Health, Public Library of Science, vol. 3(7), pages 1-13, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pgph00:0002108
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0002108
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