Browsing by Author ". Leon, Beatus K M.D."

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    Maldistribution of the medical workforce in Tanzania: predictors of willingness for rural medical practice among Tanzanian final year medical students
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2005) . Leon, Beatus K M.D.
    University of Dar es Salaam, College of Natural Applied Sciences, 2005September 2005.Human resources for health in Tanzania are in short supply and urban biased. Preference for urban practice prevails among newly graduating medical doctors. This study sought to determine the factors influencing willingness for rural practice among Tanzanian final year medical students. A cross sectional survey was conducted among 130 medical students at MUCHS and HKMU in Dar es Salaam and KCMC in Moshi. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data on demographic characteristics, rural experience, perception of rural facilities, employment prospects, willingness to accept rural posts, and perceived advantages and disadvantages of rural career. About 35% of students would specifically consider a rural post in their job search, while 59.4% would accept to be posted to rural areas by their employers although they would not initially apply for it. Students from a rural background were twice more likely to be willing for rural practice compared to their urban counterparts (p=0.004). The influence of gender, age and source of sponsorship on willingness for rural practice was not statistically significant. Willingness for rural practice was also influenced by type of rural experience, perceived state of rural health facilities, intended fields of specialization, and perceived merits and demerits of a rural career.