Impact of Political Instability on Medical and Dental Education and Student Mental Health in Lower-Middle-Income Countries: Insights from Pakistan

Objectives: The objective of the study is to assess how political instability impacts medical and dental students’ education in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. It explores for ways to determine how such instability affects students’ academic performance, career choices, and psychological well-being. Methodology: A cross-sectional study design was employed, targeting students enrolled in 20 medical and 10 dental colleges in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Convenient sampling was used to determine sample sizes of 124 students, and data was gathered via an online questionnaire that was distributed through designated focal points at each institution. To assess mental health outcomes, a customized questionnaire with components comprising the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was developed. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Results: The results show that while most students reported they rarely missed class because of political instability, a sizeable percentage said the continuous unrest made them reconsider their career choices. The future of Pakistan’s healthcare system was a source of great concern for 79% of those surveyed, who expressed moderate to severe anxiety. Furthermore, 75% of students said they frequently thought about leaving the country in search of better prospects. High levels of stress and anxiety were found in mental health assessments; 85% of students reported feeling out of control of their life and experiencing anxiety frequently. Conclusion: Students studying medicine and dentistry in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are greatly impacted academically and mentally by the political unrest in the region. The results emphasize the necessity of targeted efforts to enhance students’ psychological and academic health as well as measures to lessen the brain drain from conflict-affected areas.