Abstract:
Human resources for eye health are inequitably distributed in most developing countries including
Ghana. In spite of this, most eye care workers are concentrated in urban areas to the disadvantage of rural dwellers
who need the services of these workers the most. The aim of the study was to investigate factors that will influence
Ghanaian Optometry students’ decision to work in rural areas after completion of their training.
Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among Ghanaian optometry undergraduate students. All
undergraduate optometry students (first to sixth year) who agreed to take part in the research completed a
37 item questionnaire that explored; demographic characteristics, views about practice choice and possible
attractions and incentives to practice in the rural area.
Results: A total of 333 (87.4%) participants out of 381 Ghanaian optometry students who were registered for
the 2015/2016 academic year completed the questionnaire. Rural origin students had the greatest desire to
practice in the rural setting when employed by the Government (78.9%) or by NGO (80.3%). Financial incentives (76.6%),
scholarship for further studies (76.0%), better living conditions (71.2%) and career ladder jump for rural health
workers (71.2%) were the main incentives that influenced the intention of graduate optometrists to practice
in the rural areas.
Conclusion: Rural origin students are more inclined to work in rural areas than urban origin students, a
finding which is informative for optometry training schools when managing their admission policies. Financial
incentives among other factors will encourage more students to engage in rural optometric practice
irrespective of their place of origin.
