Perception of Master of Public Health Students regarding E-Learning in Covid-19 Era: A New Normal in Lower- and Middle-Income Countries

OBJECTIVES: To explore the perception of postgraduate public health students regarding e-learning in context to Covid-19 pandemic and its effect on their academic performances METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Sarhad Institute of Health Science, SUIT Peshawar from 3(rd) October 2020 to 4(th) February 2021. The Census method was incorporated for sample selection. Participation in the study was subjected to consent by participants. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Data was analyzed using SPSS Version-26. RESULTS: Out of 95 participants, 72 (75.8%) were males and 23 (24.2%) were females. The mean grade point average (GPA) of previous semester-1 and semester-2, when they were having a conventional education system on campus before the pandemic was 2.741±0.499 and 2.643±.498 respectively. The current mean GPA of semesters 1, 2, and 3 who had online classes during this pandemic was 2.41±0.66, 3.06±0.51, and 2.80±0.47 respectively. Fifty-one (53.7%) students preferred to use mobile for e-learning. Convenience to the use-learning management system (LMS) was 67.4% and 72.6% responded that their academic performance was positively affected by e-learning. Logistic regression revealed that source of learning (p 0.99), uninterrupted internet (p 0.87), convenience with LMS (p 0.17), stress (p 0.505), convenient communication with faculty (p 0.69), and compatibility with professional routine (p 0.21) were not significantly associated with good academic performance, however, students of semester 2 (p 0.001) and those using laptops (p 0.02) were more likely to get a GPA of 3.0 or above CONCLUSIONS: Students in this study had a positive perception regarding e-learning however, there is a definite need to amalgamate both online and on-campus learning modalities for post-graduate students especially during the uncertain situations.