Health Worker Text-messaging for Training, Peer Support, and Mentoring in Pediatric and Adolescent HIV/AIDS Care: Lessons Learned in Zimbabwe

Abstract

continuous improvements to the MSGH coursework and program design, and to describe the desired student characteristics for admission into graduate degree programs in global health.Methods: This study examines survey responses from students matriculated in the MSGH program between 2014 and 2015. All active students were invited to complete an online self-assessment with questions related to their global health experience, skills and career goals. Free-text responses were hand-coded using 10 categorical variables. These categories were developed through an inductive process.Findings: Previous data revealed that students admitted to the MSGH program during this first year were 78% female, with an average age of 36. 57% were working in health science and 11% in government or public administration. Survey text responses from active students during the same time period provide additional information on their backgrounds and goals. Students' previous global health experiences fell overwhelmingly in the medicine and mission/volunteer categories, 45% and 50% respectively. Responses indicating the desired area of future work were spread more evenly across the categories. All professional categories, excluding volunteer and mission work, were represented in at least 2 text responses. The highest response rates were in the categories of medicine and government and policy, 30% and 25% respectively.Interpretation: The diversity of industries represented by students admitted to the program underscores the interprofessional nature of the field and the workforce. This diversity is encouraging and necessitates pedagogical techniques that can appeal to a wide array of students, including a majority female population. Findings also suggest that career advising will need to adapt to market demands, prioritizing program management in the non-profit/governmental sectors.