Citation

Amanya SB, Nakitende J, Ngabirano TD. Nurs. Open 2018; 5(1): 70-76.

Affiliation

Department of Nursing, College of Health SciencesMakerere UniversityKampalaUganda.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/nop2.113

PMID

29344397

PMCID

PMC5762706

Abstract

AIM: To assess prevalence of stress and its sources among undergraduate health professional students at Makerere University.

DESIGN: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study using quantitative methods of data collection.

METHODS: The study was conducted among 258 undergraduate health professional students (Medical, Dental and, Nursing students) at Makerere University. From each programme, students were recruited proportionately, while being selected conveniently from each year of study. Stress was measured using the General Health Questionnaire 12 and stressors assessed using a questionnaire developed from literature. After obtaining ethics approval, data were collected from consenting students. Data collected were analysed using SPSS statistical program.

RESULTS: The prevalence of stress was found to be 57.4% and stressors of academic and psychosocial origin were most frequently reported. The top stressors included; academic curriculum (38%), dissatisfaction with class lectures (30.9%), long distance walk (29.5%), lack of time for recreation (28.9%), performance in examination (28.3%), lack of special guidance from faculty (26.7%) and high parental expectations (26.7%).

Language: en

Keywords

Uganda; health professions; nurses; nursing; stress; students