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Women in Surgery: Factors Deterring Women from Being Surgeons in Zimbabwe
Muchemwa, F.C. & Erzingatsian, K.
Abstract
Background:
There is a disproportionate number of female and male surgeons in
Zimbabwe. Factors determining the post-graduate career choice of female doctors in
Zimbabwe have not been documented. The main objective of this study was to determine
factors deterring women in Zimbabwe from choosing surgery as a lifetime specialty of
choice.
Methods:
A convenience sample of 161 doctors and medical students were recruited. A
questionnaire covering a broad range of topics was administered and collected
anonymously. Undergraduate and post-graduate enrolment figures and information on
registered surgeons was obtained from the respective authorities.
Results:
A total of 159 questionnaires were assessable, with a slight male dominance. The
majority (60%) was below the age of 30 years. The vast majority were within 5 years of
graduating from Medical School. Surgery was selected as the specialty of choice by 40% of
the respondents with only 25% of them being women. A female enrolment figure for the
University of Zimbabwe, College of Health Sciences, was 34% in 2010, an increase from
13% in 1995. Female surgeons comprise 8% of the Surgical Society of Zimbabwe. Women
selecting surgery responded that surgery was dynamic, exciting and a good challenge.
However, they admitted that other women would not choose it as it was too demanding.
Women choosing Surgery were consistently found to have been leaders at some point in
their life. Women selecting other specialties re-iterated that their surgical rotations were
too tough and iron ruled, making it an unwelcome environment for women; in addition,
they sited that the lack of female role models in the department was a deterrent. Lack of
time with family by being in a surgical specialty was cited by only 5% of the study
population. Males choosing Surgery as a specialty, at all levels, encouraged women to join
the specialty, however, they cited work disruptions when female colleagues were pregnant.
Conclusion:
In this qualitative study, we have found that there are fewer women choosing
Surgery as a specialty. It is clear that achieving gender balance in the Department of
Surgery will continue to be a challenge. This balance is further compounded by the
significantly low proportion of female medical students enrolled to the UZ-CHS each year,
and the lack of appropriate female role models in the Department.
Keywords
Factors; Dettering; Women; Surgeons
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