Bhim Prasad Sapkota|Archana Amatya
What factors influence the choice of urban or rural location for future practice of Nepalese medical students? A cross-sectional descriptive study
Ministry of Health and Population|Department of Health Services|Tribhuvan University
nepal experiencing public health issue similar rest world ie geographical maldistribution physicians although documentation reasons physicians elect leave nepal work abroad little known salient factors influence choice urban versus rural practice setting physicians migrate recent years around 1000 medical students became doctors within nepal distribution rural locations adequate purpose study explore factors influence choice urban rural location future clinical practice nepalese medical students final year programa crosssectional descriptive study design used study involving nepalese medical students final year study currently internship medical college sample consisted 393 medical students four medical colleges nepal selected randomly anonymous selfadministered questionnaire used data collection determine association rural location choice future practice setting comparison done involved demographic socioeconomic educational factors data entered epidata analyzed using spss version 16among 393 respondents two thirds male 669 half 25 years age almost 93 respondents single two thirds 634 brahmin chhetri ethnic origin two thirds 641 respondents born rural setting 588 533 place rearing permanent address rural location respectively predictors future rural location choice clinical practice based bivariate analysis included rural versus urban place birth place rearing permanent address b source family income service business agriculture c occupation father service business agriculture wealth ranking higher middle lower wealth rank e educational factors location type secondary education type higher secondary educationfor medical students soon complete studies demographic educational factors found significant predictors rural location choice opposed socioeconomic factors findings indicate ensure rural retention physicians government nepal attract potential medical students reared educated rural setting