TY - JOUR
T1 - Characteristics of undergraduate and second speciality mental health programmes in Peru
T2 - a cross-sectional study
AU - García-Serna, Jackeline
AU - Almeida-Huanca, Guillermo
AU - Huarcaya-Victoria, Jeff
AU - Vilela-Estrada, Ana Lucia
AU - Zafra-Tanaka, Jessica Hanae
AU - Villarreal-Zegarra, David
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was funded by the Instituto Peruano de Orientación Psicológica. The funder had no role in the development of the protocol, data collection, data analysis, writing of the manuscript, or choice of journal.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023, The Author(s).
PY - 2023/12
Y1 - 2023/12
N2 - Background: This study aims to describe the training offered and the availability of professionals required by the Ministry of Health for mental health problems management in the community. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on the training offered in mental health in Peruvian universities. A search for programs was conducted using the University Information System database and universities' websites, as well as using the Ministry of Health's database on health personnel and data on the number of enrolled and current students provided by the University Information System database and the Transparency section of the universities. Results: There were 214 undergraduate, 55 specialty and 7 subspecialty programmes, of which 39%, 47% and 100%, respectively, were offered in the capital city. The duration ranged from 5 to 7 years for undergraduate programs and from 1 to 3 years for subspecialty and second specialty programs. The cost of undergraduate programs ranged from free of charge up to USD 6863.75 for the first semester of study. Second specialty programs ranged from 720 up to 11 986 USD and subspecialty programs ranged from 2267 up to 9138 USD, with medicine being the most expensive. On the other hand, there are a greater number of psychology students (n = 78 781) pursuing undergraduate studies than working professionals (n = 5368), while in the second specialty of psychiatry there are far fewer students pursuing the specialty (n = 67) than working professionals (n = 454). Conclusions: The problem of professional training in mental health requires that the institutions involved in health and education develop policies to decentralize programs, communicate the demand for professionals in certain areas, make them accessible to the low-income population, respond to mental health problems and guarantee their quality. On the other hand, regarding the low number of mental health personnel working, it is suggested to increase the mental health budget to generate more mental health services and employment.
AB - Background: This study aims to describe the training offered and the availability of professionals required by the Ministry of Health for mental health problems management in the community. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on the training offered in mental health in Peruvian universities. A search for programs was conducted using the University Information System database and universities' websites, as well as using the Ministry of Health's database on health personnel and data on the number of enrolled and current students provided by the University Information System database and the Transparency section of the universities. Results: There were 214 undergraduate, 55 specialty and 7 subspecialty programmes, of which 39%, 47% and 100%, respectively, were offered in the capital city. The duration ranged from 5 to 7 years for undergraduate programs and from 1 to 3 years for subspecialty and second specialty programs. The cost of undergraduate programs ranged from free of charge up to USD 6863.75 for the first semester of study. Second specialty programs ranged from 720 up to 11 986 USD and subspecialty programs ranged from 2267 up to 9138 USD, with medicine being the most expensive. On the other hand, there are a greater number of psychology students (n = 78 781) pursuing undergraduate studies than working professionals (n = 5368), while in the second specialty of psychiatry there are far fewer students pursuing the specialty (n = 67) than working professionals (n = 454). Conclusions: The problem of professional training in mental health requires that the institutions involved in health and education develop policies to decentralize programs, communicate the demand for professionals in certain areas, make them accessible to the low-income population, respond to mental health problems and guarantee their quality. On the other hand, regarding the low number of mental health personnel working, it is suggested to increase the mental health budget to generate more mental health services and employment.
KW - Community Mental Health Centers
KW - Education Medical
KW - Education Nursing
KW - Health personnel
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85149428151&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1186/s12960-023-00805-9
DO - 10.1186/s12960-023-00805-9
M3 - Artículo
C2 - 36859351
AN - SCOPUS:85149428151
SN - 1478-4491
VL - 21
JO - Human Resources for Health
JF - Human Resources for Health
IS - 1
M1 - 16
ER -
