Brain Drain in the Health Sector: A Medical Students Perspective

Abstract

Background:The migration of health professionals to other countries for various reasons call for concerted attention because of the attendant negative effects on the healthcare system especially of developing nations as it creates inequity among vulnerable populations. This worrying trend exacerbates an already deteriorating health system. Aims and Objectives:The aim is to ascertain the thoughts and beliefs of medical students in a Nigerian University while the Objectives is to determine the factors that promote brain drain in the health sector as well as evaluate the relationship between brain drain in the health sector and social circumstances like gender, finance and background. Methodology:A cross-sectional study.Results: Principal among factors that promote brain drain in the medical sector were poor salaries, poor infrastructure and poor leadership. There was found a statistically significant relationship between socio-demographics of respondents (level of training of respondents) and their attitude to brain drain. Conclusion:The issue of brain drain poses a great and significant threat to the health system of developing nations.