MUHAS students find a PWD-focused SRH training to be feasible, acceptable, and needed, presenting an opportunity for great impact.
Key Findings
Results
The majority of medical, nursing, and midwifery students at MUHAS believed that an SRH training centered on the needs of people with disabilities is feasible.
83.6% of student participants indicated the proposed training is feasible
Survey included 409 medical, nursing, and midwifery student participants
Study was conducted at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Science (MUHAS) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
A mixed methods design via survey was employed to determine feasibility and acceptability
Results
Nearly all surveyed students found a PWD-focused SRH training to be acceptable.
97.6% of medical, nursing, and midwifery students believed the training is acceptable
Acceptability rate (97.6%) was notably higher than the feasibility rate (83.6%)
Sample consisted of 409 participants across three healthcare student disciplines
Data were assessed using descriptive statistics and reflexive content analysis
Results
Half of healthcare students at MUHAS reported receiving little to no training in sexual and reproductive health care for people with disabilities.
50.4% of medical, nursing, and midwifery students reported receiving little to no training in SRH for PWD
This finding indicates a significant gap in existing curricula at MUHAS
The finding supports the need for a new curriculum focused on the SRH needs of PWD
This gap exists in the context of Tanzania's described 'sexual and reproductive health crisis'
Results
Qualitative responses from participants identified multiple anticipated benefits of PWD-focused SRH training.
Participants indicated the training would improve the quality of life for people with disabilities
Responses highlighted that the training would address vulnerability and healthcare neglect of PWD
Participants noted the training would benefit society more broadly
Findings were derived through reflexive content analysis of qualitative survey responses
Background
The inclusion of people with disabilities in sexual and reproductive health efforts is described as rare in Tanzania, despite their particular vulnerability.
Tanzania is characterized as having a sexual and reproductive health crisis
SRH services in Tanzania are described as limited
People with disabilities are identified as a particularly vulnerable population within this context
The study identifies a critical gap in healthcare provider training specific to PWD-focused SRH care
What This Means
This research surveyed 409 medical, nursing, and midwifery students at a major university in Tanzania (MUHAS) to understand whether a new training program focused on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) care for people with disabilities would be considered practical and worthwhile. The study found overwhelming support: 97.6% of students thought such a training would be acceptable, and 83.6% believed it would be feasible to implement. Critically, half of the students (50.4%) reported receiving little to no current training on this topic, revealing a substantial gap in their existing education.
Students also shared qualitative perspectives explaining why they valued the proposed training. They believed it would improve the quality of life for people with disabilities, help address the neglect and vulnerability this population experiences in healthcare settings, and ultimately benefit Tanzanian society as a whole. These responses suggest that students not only see the training as viable but genuinely recognize the need for it.
This research suggests that there is strong student-level support for integrating disability-focused sexual and reproductive health content into healthcare training programs in Tanzania. Given that people with disabilities are considered a particularly vulnerable group in a country already facing significant SRH challenges, developing and implementing such a curriculum could help reduce healthcare disparities for this underserved population. The high rates of feasibility and acceptability among students indicate a promising foundation for future curriculum development efforts.
Mark K, Mushy S, Puchner-Hardman M, Mgopa L, Lukumay G, Rosser B, et al.. (2025). Needs assessment of training midwifery, nursing, and medical students in sexual and reproductive health care for people with disabilities in Tanzania.. Disability and health journal. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2025.101919