The Training Experience and Professional Expectations of Allied Health Workers Students in Angola

Abstract BackgroundWe describe the profile of Angolan final year allied health workers (AHW) students: where they come from, their experience of training and expectations regarding professional future. MethodsIt was a questionnaire based observational cross-sectional study applied to final year AHW students in 24 public and private sector , higher and mid-level training institutions in 14 of the 18 provinces of Angola during 2014.ResultsMost AHW students were women, satisfied with their choice of training. Satisfaction with teachers was high but low regarding support systems such as access to library, laboratories and clinical cases.After training AHW students wanted to settle in Angola, preferable in hospital practice, preferably in the public sector and in a national or provincial capital, rather than in the municipal hospitals. ConclusionsThis study highlights some of the issues that will have to be addressed by training institutions in order to contribute to a balanced health workforce in Angola, with AHW in quantity with the quality and distribution necessary to address health system and population needs. It highlights the importance of private education institutions in meeting this need. As training is a significant investment by students or their relatives, training institutions must strive to improve support systems in terms of access to libraries, laboratories, clinical cases, informatic support, canteens, accommodation and leisure activities.