Specialty Choice of Residents in the University of Nigeria teaching Hospital, Enugu 1989 - 1999.

Objective: To analyze the specialty choice of residents in the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu from 1989 - 1999, and to assess the ratio of community physicians to the clinical specialties of residents. Method: The record of admissions into the residency training programme in the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu was analyzed. Simple percentages and proportions of residents in the different specialties were computed and compared with one another and with community medicine. Result: The ratio of community medicine to the other clinical departments of Surgery, Internal medicine, Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Paediatrics is 1:7. When compared individually, each of these four were at a ratio of about 2:1 to community medicine. Conclusion: This study and other studies from other parts of the nation show that Nigeria is producing more core clinicians than community health physicians. As the nation's health policy is anchored on Primary Health Care, Community Health Physicians may be better suited to implement the nation's health policy. It would therefore be beneficial to increase the number of community Health Physicians produced by training institutions in Nigeria. Key Words: Residency training; Health manpower, Primary Health Care; Community physicians Orient Journal of Medicine Vol.16(3&4) 2004: 7-1