Article Sidebar
Published:
Nov 1, 2022Article Details
Copyright remains in the Author’s name. The work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution - Noncommercial Works License. Authors are required to complete and sign an Author Agreement form that outlines Author and Publisher rights and terms of publication. The Agreement form should be uploaded along with other submissions files and any submission will be considered incomplete without it [forthcoming].
Material submitted for publication in the AJHPE is accepted provided it has not been published or submitted for publication elsewhere. Please inform the editorial team if the main findings of your paper have been presented at a conference and published in abstract form, to avoid copyright infringement. The AJHPE does not hold itself responsible for statements made by the authors. The corresponding author should also indicate if the research forms part of a postgraduate short report, dissertation or thesis.
Previously published images
If an image/figure has been previously published, permission to reproduce or alter it must be obtained by the authors from the original publisher and the figure legend must give full credit to the original source. This credit should be accompanied by a letter indicating that permission to reproduce the image has been granted to the author/s. This letter should be uploaded as a supplementary file during submission.Main Article Content
Motivation to enrol in a Master of Public Health postgraduate programme at a South African university
V Mathews
Abstract
Background. In the context of a curriculum embedded in social perspectives linked to validated Master of Public Health (MPH) competencies, blended learning is used for learning and teaching. However, in a changing technological environment and embarking on the Fourth Industrial Revolution, it becomes imperative to understand the target audience using blended learning as a postgraduate learning environment. Curriculum restructuring and redesign have to take into account changing patterns in the context, environment and target audience for postgraduate programmes in public health.
Objectives. To determine the demographic profile of master’s-level postgraduate public health students and their motivation for enrolling into a postgraduate programme.
Methods. The study is a retrospective quantitative descriptive research design using secondary data from the application forms of all registered MPH postgraduate students enrolled for the degree from 2015 to 2019. Secondary data analysis was performed using descriptive analysis to calculate frequency, percentages, means and ranking order.
Results. One hundred and eighty-four student records were analysed over the study period, with a 55% female and 45% male gender representation. South African students comprised 38% of the total number of students enrolled during the study period. The motivation to enrol in the MPH programme was to improve public health practice, specifically in the field of promotive and preventive aspects of public health. Further research into the motivation to enrol in a distance-learning postgraduate programme is required.
Conclusion. The MPH programme attracts regional and international students from multidisciplinary fields, thereby improving public health practice by moving beyond clinical practice.
