Design and Implementation of Postgraduate Programs in Health in a Resource-Limited Setting in Mozambique (The Lúrio University)

Abstract

Purpose: To describe the strategies used to design and implement three postgraduate programs at Lúrio University (UniLúrio), a resource-limited setting, in northern Mozambique. Methods: We conducted a longitudinal, descriptive case study from 2011 to 2018 in two phases: 1) needs assessment (2011)(2012), 2) implementation strategies (2013)(2014)(2015)(2016)(2017)(2018), taking into account innovations whenever necessary. Results: Several obstacles and barriers to the establishment of postgraduate programs were identified. These included a lack of a core curricula aimed at postgraduate programs, shortage of human resources for teaching and mentorship, limited teaching and research infrastructures, limited financial resources, and lack of administrative capacity. With the support of the Medical Education Partnership Initiative (MEPI), three Master degree programs were designed and implemented. During the period of 2013-2018, UniLúrio enrolled 202 students, distributed as follows: Master degree in Tropical Medicine and Global Health (55), Master degree in Health Professional Education (99), and Master degree in Nutrition and Food Security (48). Of those, 152 (75.2%) obtained a Postgraduate Diploma as they did not present a master dissertation, 89 (44.0%) obtained their Master degree, 30 (14.8%) dropped out, and 20 (9.9%) are awaiting decision. UniLurio's staff trained a Master's degree or a Postgraduate Diploma in 34 (16.8%) and 15 (7.4%), respectively. Our strategies allowed us to improve research capacity building, and set the basis for long-term sustainability by allowing for the establishment of other postgraduate programs, and offered UniLurio a strong role in its internationalization. Conclusion: By sharing multiple resources, long-lasting partnerships were established with multiple institutions, and competency-based training and postgraduate studies management were developed. Research and eLearning were leveraged, retention and faculty development was enhanced, and some inequalities within the country were reduced. These strategies and innovations can be applied to other resource-limited settings, allowing the scaleup of health professional's training and research capacity building.

The burden of T. solium cysticercosis and selected neuropsychiatric disorders in Mocuba district, Zambézia province, Mozambique

“…an example, the district has an HIV prevalence of 9% and 39% of children are infected by at least one intestinal parasite [17][18][19][20][21].…”

Fostering Sustainable Biomedical Research Training in Mozambique: A Spin-Off of the Medical Education Partnership Initiative

“…Mozambique’s population of 30,06 million includes 62.9% living below the income poverty line and 66% in rural areas. Life expectancy (61 years) is below the African average and the adult literacy rate is 60.7% [ 1 2 3 4 5 ]. Mozambique has one of Africa’s lowest per capita rates of higher education at both the undergraduate and the postgraduate levels [ 3 ].…”

“…Life expectancy (61 years) is below the African average and the adult literacy rate is 60.7% [ 1 2 3 4 5 ]. Mozambique has one of Africa’s lowest per capita rates of higher education at both the undergraduate and the postgraduate levels [ 3 ]. From 2004–2010, only 22% and 11% of Mozambican university faculty had master’s degrees or PhD degrees, respectively.…”

“…Most advanced degrees were obtained abroad. Only 4.5% (4,550) of Mozambique’s university students were enrolled in master’s or doctoral programs [ 3 ].…”

“…Mozambique also has among the fewest health professionals per capita (0.4 physicians and 4.12 nurses and midwives per 10,000 people), despite a national disease profile that is dominated by infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS (13%), malaria (40%), diarrheal and respiratory infections (29%), tuberculosis (361/100,000 inhabitants) and neglected tropical diseases such as intestinal parasites (53%), lymphatic filariasis (13%), and schistosomiasis (47%). There are also substantial rates of chronic malnutrition (43%) and mortality from non-communicable diseases (28%) [ 2 3 6 7 8 ].…”