Retaining Nigeria’s Future Healthcare Workforce: Determinants of Willingness to Practice Post-Graduation
1
College of Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla Enugu State, Nigeria
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
The migration of healthcare professionals from low- and middle-income countries (“Japa syndrome”) poses a significant threat to health system sustainability. Understanding why future healthcare workers choose to stay or leave is critical for designing retention strategies that promote equitable healthcare delivery. This study hopes to assess willingness to practice in Nigeria among future healthcare professionals at the University of Nigeria Enugu Campus (UNEC) and identify key determinants influencing this decision.
METHODS:
A cross-sectional study surveyed penultimate and final-year healthcare students at UNEC using stratified sampling. Data were collected via a structured self-administered questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS v27. Descriptive and inferential statistics examined associations between sociodemographic factors and willingness to remain in Nigeria.
RESULTS:
Among 488 participants (mean age 22.18 ± 2.68 years; 62.6% female), 57.4% intended to emigrate within five years post-graduation. Top determinants of willingness to stay included salary (36.3%), professional development opportunities (25.5%), and working conditions (13.4%). Marital status, religion, ethnicity, department, and level of study were significantly associated with willingness to remain (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS:
The low willingness of future healthcare professionals to remain in Nigeria threatens workforce resilience and health system sustainability. Addressing inadequate remuneration, limited professional development, and poor working conditions is critical for retention. Targeted interventions can strengthen workforce sustainability, reduce brain drain, and advance equitable access to healthcare thereby supporting Nigeria’s progress toward universal health coverage.
The migration of healthcare professionals from low- and middle-income countries (“Japa syndrome”) poses a significant threat to health system sustainability. Understanding why future healthcare workers choose to stay or leave is critical for designing retention strategies that promote equitable healthcare delivery. This study hopes to assess willingness to practice in Nigeria among future healthcare professionals at the University of Nigeria Enugu Campus (UNEC) and identify key determinants influencing this decision.
METHODS:
A cross-sectional study surveyed penultimate and final-year healthcare students at UNEC using stratified sampling. Data were collected via a structured self-administered questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS v27. Descriptive and inferential statistics examined associations between sociodemographic factors and willingness to remain in Nigeria.
RESULTS:
Among 488 participants (mean age 22.18 ± 2.68 years; 62.6% female), 57.4% intended to emigrate within five years post-graduation. Top determinants of willingness to stay included salary (36.3%), professional development opportunities (25.5%), and working conditions (13.4%). Marital status, religion, ethnicity, department, and level of study were significantly associated with willingness to remain (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS:
The low willingness of future healthcare professionals to remain in Nigeria threatens workforce resilience and health system sustainability. Addressing inadequate remuneration, limited professional development, and poor working conditions is critical for retention. Targeted interventions can strengthen workforce sustainability, reduce brain drain, and advance equitable access to healthcare thereby supporting Nigeria’s progress toward universal health coverage.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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