Ghanaian Student Nurses and their Intention to Migrate; Means of Managing the Migration of Nursing Professionals from the Country
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Date
2009-07-12
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Abstract
Ghana faces huge health challenges including malaria, maternal and child mortality. There are not enough nurses however to help meet these demands due to migration. Migration of nurses is of global concern necessitated by the poor remuneration and the desire for self development. This study sought to establish student nurses intentions to migrate and their location preferences.
In this descriptive cross-sectional study, some 358 student nurses from the nursing training colleges in the Western and Ashanti Regions of Ghana voluntarily participated in the study. Anonymous self administered questionnaires were employed in the study. Contributions from four key informants were included. These were nurse tutors and practicing nurses.
The majority of respondents was females (81.8%) and aged between 21 to 25 years (50.6%). The study showed that 98.3% of students had heard of migration and did so through the media, family and friends. Although 78.2% of participants considered migration a problem, 70.1% still had intentions to migrate, preferred countries outside Africa (77.7%) and believed that if conditions of service were improved it would help manage the problem (75.4%).
Stakeholders in the health sector may consider bridging salary gaps. Provision of right quantities and quality of equipment would be essential. Scholarship may be tied to written commitment to stay at areas of posting especially rural areas. There should unbiased opportunity for self development.
Description
A Dissertation Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Award of Msc in Health Services Planning and Management.