Perceived Stress Levels among Community Health Students School of Health Technology Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria

Abstract

Stress is inevitable and impacts negatively on students. The aim of the study was to determine the perceived stress level among community health students in school of health technology Nsukka. Four specific objectives with corresponding four research questions and three hypotheses guided the study. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population for the study was 325 students from Department of Community Health, School of Health Technology, Nsukka. A proportionate sampling technique was used to select 180 students. The instrument for data collection was the researcher designed perceived stress level questionnaire. Frequencies and percentages were used to answer research questions while Chi-square test was used to test the null hypotheses. Reliability index of .075 was obtained. The findings of the study showed that perceived stress level among community health students was moderate (65.9%), perceived stress level for female students was high (73.5%) and moderate (68.5%) for male students, perceived stress for CHEWs was high (75%) and moderate (67.7%) for JCHEWs, high (74.%7)for students aged 17=21 years, and moderate (60.5%, 51.6%) for those aged 21-24years above 25 years. Chi-square tests indicated no significant difference in perceived stress levels among the students based on gender, cadre and age. It was recommended that government, school authorities and parents should make academic environment favourable for students to minimize stress.