Narrative Analysis of Ethiopian Medical Students Major Department Choice: Factors, Performance and Challenges

Abstract

This study investigated the factors, challenges, and school performance that influence major choice among fourth year medicine students of Hawassa University (HU) Highest score in University Entrance Examination (UEE) is required from students to join medical school as their choice of interest. The study uses qualitative research methods; interview as a major tool of data collection. It is important to understand the reasons behind students’ major choice decisions, factors, and career satisfaction. This study intended to provide valuable information on the reasons for choosing a professional career among purposefully selected HU fourth year Medicine students. These selected HU medical students were interviewed and the collected information were narrated in recurrent themes. The finding evidence that social status of being a doctor, job security, employment opportunity, good salary, helping people and characters in a fiction were some of the factors for students to join medicine. Besides, personal background, early childhood experiences, and parental motives have influenced students' major career choices. The finding further demonstrated that early decision to join medicine was contributing to performing high in prior schools. However, it is difficult to generalize the findings of this study that was conducted using very few respondents from one university. This study suggested researchers conduct studies helpful to fill the gaps observed in existing major career choices literature.