Table 1 Characteristics of the participants in phase one (n = 153)

Age, years

 <30

6

4 %

 30–40

58

38 %

 41–50

52

34 %

 51–60

34

22 %

 >60

3

2 %

Gender

 Male

125

82 %

 Female

28

18 %

Year of obtaining medical qualification

 Before 1980

5

3 %

 1980–1990

40

26 %

 1991–2000

67

44 %

 After 2000

41

27 %

Number of years worked in Sudan before migration

 <5

87

57 %

 5–10

50

33 %

 11–15

8

5 %

 >15

2

1 %

 Not worked in Sudan before

6

4 %

Additional academic qualification acquired after migration

 Physicians earned additional academic qualifications after migration

127

83 %

 Physicians did not earn additional academic qualifications after migration

26

17 %