Is registrarship a different experience for women?
OBJECTIVE
To determine differences between male and female registrars in their subjective perceptions and experience of a paediatrics registrar training programme.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey.


METHODS
University-affiliated teaching hospitals.


METHODS
Thirty-nine paediatrics registrars.


RESULTS
Of the 39 respondents, 18 (46%) were women. Men were older than women (30.4 v. 29.1 years, P = 0.049). There were no gender differences in the number of hours worked per week (65.7 v. 67.8 hours, P = 0.384) or participation in the training programme. Success rates in postgraduate paediatrics examinations were also similar for the two groups (85% v. 76% P = 0.486). Male registrars were more likely to have 'moonlighted' (43% v. 6%, P = 0.011). Fifty-nine per cent of female registrars believed that they had been disadvantaged in their careers because of their gender, 28% felt that more was expected of a woman registrar and 22% of the female trainees claimed to have been subjected to sexual harassment. The majority (82%) of women registrars contemplated taking time off from practising clinical paediatrics in the future (post-registrarship), mainly for child-bearing purposes. Female respondents criticised both the academic department and the hospital authorities for discriminatory practices, such as the awarding of home loans to men and women who were breadwinners only. The findings suggest that women registrars do feel disadvantaged and discriminated against, and highlight the need for flexible, creative programmes that recognise the needs and aspirations of female registrars and, indeed, all women in academic medicine.
Saloojee
H
H
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of the Witwatersand, Johannesburg.
Rothberg
A D
AD
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D002668:Child Rearing; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005180:Faculty, Medical; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010372:Pediatrics; D010822:Physicians, Women / Q000639:trends; D011287:Prejudice; D011361:Professional Competence; D012737:Sex Factors; D017406:Sexual Harassment; D013019:South Africa; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires