Training for Health Professionals In Tanzania

Training for Health Professionals in Tanzania

The goal of this randomized, controlled, single blinded trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of an Afrocentric sexual health curriculum on health professional students' knowledge, attitudes, and clinical skills in providing sexual health care in Tanzania.

There were 563 students recruited for the study that met the eligibility requirement. A total of 412 students gave consent and were randomized into intervention and control groups. At baseline, participants took a survey covering demographic information, educational background, sexual health knowledge, and attitudes toward sexual health topics. After completing the survey, participants participated in two standardized patient interviews involving actors role playing sexual health-related patient scenarios.

Those who were in the intervention arm participated in a 4-day sexual health curriculum followed by a post-test survey measuring sexual health knowledge, attitudes, and evaluation of sexual health training.

Three to four months later, intervention and waitlist control participants completed a follow-up survey assessing sexual health knowledge and attitudes toward sexual health topics and standardized patients scenarios.

Multiple linear regression was used to assess the overall effectiveness of the sexual health curriculum on the attitudes, knowledge, and skills of health professionals after it has been implemented.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. current student at MUHAS in midwifery, nursing, or medicine.
2. 3rd or 4th year for medical students or 2nd or 3rd year for nursing and midwifery students.
3. able to attend the full 4-day training during the first week of student vacation.
4. fluent in English (the language of instruction at MUHAS) and Kiswahili (the lingua franca in Tanzania).
5. willing to volunteer and complete all evaluation procedures.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. students who will not be able to attend MUHAS all days of the seminar or be on the MUHAS campus for the follow-up dates.
2. students who express severe reservations about attending (e.g., due to religious objections).
3. Students who express fear of violence due to attending (e.g., from a spouse or relative).