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. 2018 Aug 6;18(1):188.
doi: 10.1186/s12909-018-1302-3.

Factors influencing the decision of GHANAIAN optometry students to practice in rural areas after graduation

Samuel Bert Boadi-Kusi  1 , Samuel Kyei  2 , Vandyke Bright Okyere  3 , Sampson Listowell Abu  4
Affiliations

Factors influencing the decision of GHANAIAN optometry students to practice in rural areas after graduation

Samuel Bert Boadi-Kusi et al. BMC Med Educ. .

Abstract

Background: Human resources for eye health are inequitably distributed in most developing countries including Ghana. In spite of this, most eye care workers are concentrated in urban areas to the disadvantage of rural dwellers who need the services of these workers the most. The aim of the study was to investigate factors that will influence Ghanaian Optometry students' decision to work in rural areas after completion of their training.

Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among Ghanaian optometry undergraduate students. All undergraduate optometry students (first to sixth year) who agreed to take part in the research completed a 37 item questionnaire that explored; demographic characteristics, views about practice choice and possible attractions and incentives to practice in the rural area.

Results: A total of 333 (87.4%) participants out of 381 Ghanaian optometry students who were registered for the 2015/2016 academic year completed the questionnaire. Rural origin students had the greatest desire to practice in the rural setting when employed by the Government (78.9%) or by NGO (80.3%). Financial incentives (76.6%), scholarship for further studies (76.0%), better living conditions (71.2%) and career ladder jump for rural health workers (71.2%) were the main incentives that influenced the intention of graduate optometrists to practice in the rural areas.

Conclusion: Rural origin students are more inclined to work in rural areas than urban origin students, a finding which is informative for optometry training schools when managing their admission policies. Financial incentives among other factors will encourage more students to engage in rural optometric practice irrespective of their place of origin.

Keywords: Ghanaian optometry students; Incentives; Optometric practice; Rural area.

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Conflict of interest statement

Study approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board of the University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana, with ethical clearance ID No: (UCCIRB/CHAS/2015). The study adhered to the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki. Permission was sought from the Heads of Optometry Departments to involve their students in our study. All participants signed a study consent form and were provided with detailed information.

Not applicable.

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The map of Ghana showing the location of the two optometry training institutions and the ten administrative regions. UE: Upper East UW: Upper West NR: Northern Region BA: Brong Ahafo AS: Ashanti ER: Eastern Region VR: Volta Region GA: Greater Accra CR: Central Region WR: Western Region
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Characteristics of respondents from rural areas
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Factors that would be considered by respondents when deciding on rural practice
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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