Physician emigration from Nigeria and the associated factors: the implications to safeguarding the Nigeria health system

Table 1 Sociodemographic and other characteristics of the respondents

Variable	Frequency (n = 913)	Percent
Age in years
21–30	203	22.2
31–40	445	48.7
41–50	215	23.5
≥ 51	50	5.5
Mean ± SD	37.6 ± 7.9^a
Sex
Female	336	36.8
Male	577	63.2
Marital status
Married	689	75.5
Never married	209	22.9
Widowed	8	0.9
Separated	7	0.8
Spouse’s profession (n = 689)
Non-health worker	392	42.9
Non-physician health worker	137	15.0
Physician	160	17.5
Religion
Christianity	734	80.4
Islam	166	18.2
Others^b	13	1.4
Highest education
Basic medical degree	419	45.9
Master/PhD/MD	77	8.4
Membership of a Postgraduate Medical College^c	223	24.4
Fellowship of a Postgraduate Medical College	166	18.2
Associate Professor/Professor	28	3.1
Country of basic medical (MBBS) degree
Nigeria	872	95.5
Abroad^d	41	4.5
Type of institution attended to obtain basic medical degree
Public university	865	94.7
Private university	48	5.3
Status of clinical specialization
Medical Officers	353	38.7
Junior Registrars (Pre-Part One Trainee)	143	15.7
Senior Registrars (Post Part One Trainee)	223	24.4
Fellows (Specialist Physicians)	194	21.2
Professional work experience in years
≤ 5	247	27.1
6–10	269	29.5
11–15	235	25.7
16–20	92	10.1
≥ 21	70	7.7
Mean ± SD	10.4 ± 7.1^a
Type of health institution of practice
Public facility	779	85.3
Private facility	134	14.7
Location of practice
Rural	73	8.0
Semi-urban	248	27.2
Urban	592	64.8

^aMean ± standard deviation
^bAfrican Traditional Religion, Eckankar, Deism, Agnostic, no affiliation
^cNational Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria and or West African Postgraduate Medical College
^dUkraine (20), Russia (4), Sudan (4), Bulgaria (3), Saint Kitts & Nevis (3), India (2), Dominica (1), Oman (1), China (1), Ghana (1) and Uganda (1)

ISSN: 1478-4491