Where have all the graduates gone and why?

ABSTRACT

A stratified random sample was used to analyse some of the factors influencing career choices of the University of the West Indies (UWI) MBBS, graduates, their geographical distribution and specialities and family formation. This information could assist in the choice of postgraduate programmes provided at UWI and indicate perceived deficiencies. A list of graduates from 1954 to 1989 with addresses was stratified by country/continent of known address. A random sample of approximately equal numbers of both genders was sent copies of a questionnaire plus an addressed return envelope. 110 valid replies were received, coded and analysed using SPSS. One-third of graduates were in practice outside the Caribbean. The most frequent postgraduate qualification was internal medicine followed by paediatrics and anaesthesia. Career choices were affected by availability of postgraduate training. Satisfaction with a medical career and remuneration was almost 100 percent. Graduates have received international recognition and reached senior positions even abroad. More women than men were unmarried and childless. Men were more likely to choose partners from a lower socioeconomic group. Despite attraction of working in more developed societies the majority of graduates have remained in or returned to the region. However, there appear to be imbalances among these earlier graduates in specialities chosen. There are also gender differences in family formation. Reasons for this and influences on career path deserve further study.(AU)