title: Attitude of would-be medical graduates toward rural health services: An assessment from Government Medical Colleges in Chhattisgarh.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Understanding the attitude toward rural health care among future medical graduates, the health workforce of the near future, is an important exercise.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study is to understand the attitude of third year MBBS students in a Government Medical College of Chhattisgarh toward rural health services.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2014 using a semi-open-ended questionnaire. The analysis was primarily descriptive, and nonparametric test of significance was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of a total of 293 students, 263 (89.7%) rated the current rural health services to be unsatisfactory. Nearly 44% students were willing to serve in the rural area. There was no statistical difference among willing and nonwilling 3rdyear Part I students regarding willingness to join rural services but mostly not willing among 3rdyear Part II. Majority (66.2%) were only willing to work in rural areas for <1 year. The oft-mentioned reason was reservation or added marks in postgraduate entrance examination by more than two-third respondents, "health services for the poor" by nearly two-third respondents and followed by "gain of knowledge about rural people and their diseases." Nearly 10% would-be medical graduates perceived no apparent benefit. The greatest perceived disadvantage was "lack of infrastructural facilities" by more than 80% of the respondents, while "lack of education opportunities for children and basic amenities for family members" was a concern for nearly three-fourth of respondents. Less than half of the respondents thought that there were no career growth opportunities in rural practice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  If the identified perceived factors of nonwillingness are taken care off, it would lead to a drastic increase in the number of doctors joining rural service. Not only that but also this would lead to more doctors staying in their position for a longer duration than currently mandated. This would require a relook at the preexisting health policies and adapting them accordingly to retain the services of rural health workers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, PGIMER Dr. RML Hospital, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Meeta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Pt. JNM Medical College, Raipur, India.
authors.forename: Shubhra Agrawal
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: SGVE Hospital, Raipur, India.
authors.forename: Anil Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Pritam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roy
keywords: India; medical graduates; rural health services