title: Factors influencing the migration of West African health professionals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The West African health sector is characterized by a human resource base lacking in numbers and specialized skills. Among the contributory factors to this lack of human resource for health workforce include but not limited to the migration of health professionals.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional survey targeted 118 young professionals who have participated in the Young Professional Internship Program (YPIP) of the West African Health Organization (WAHO), from (2005-2013). It inquired about their socio-demographic characteristics associated with migration and reasons for going to their preferred or most likely destinations through online survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 118 young professionals, 100 responded to the online survey, of which (28%) have migrated and (72%) did not migrate. Migration was more common among males and those (age≤31 years old), single with high dependency level and no previous work experience. Having a medical profession and being posted to urban or semi-urban area was also associated with their emigration. Their most important reasons for going to preferred or most likely destinations were to have fair level of workload, job promotion and limited occupational risks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This finding suggests that the migration of health professionals is situation dependent, mediated by basic socio-demographic variables and work related conditions. These issues have implications for curbing the brain drain potential of health professionals in the West African health sector.
authors: Institute of Health Policy and Management, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taiwan (R.O.C).
authors: Mat
authors: M
authors: Lowe
authors: Institute of Health Policy and Management, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taiwan (R.O.C).
authors: Duan-Rung
authors: DR
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000354:Africa, Western; D000367:Age Factors; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004641:Emigration and Immigration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006280:Health Workforce / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016526:Workload
keywords: Migration; West Africa; West African Health Organization; young professionals