Slow progress: predoctoral education in family medicine in four Latin American countries

Many countries in Latin America are seeking to expand primary care services provided through their health care systems. Family physicians are an essential component of an effective primary care workforce, but we know little about the status of family practice training in Latin America. This study examines predoctoral training in family practice in four Latin American countries and identifies factors affecting its incorporation into medical training institutions.

A Spanish language survey was mailed to the heads of all medical schools in Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, and Panama (n=100), asking about the status of family practice training at the school and factors perceived as facilitating or impeding its acceptance by the institution. Quantitative data were analyzed for frequency, and qualitative data were analyzed for content and theme.

Sixty-five of the 100 schools responded to the survey. Of these, only 34 (52%) provide training in family practice at the predoctoral level, and only nine (14%) have established departments of family medicine. Barriers to inclusion of family medicine include lack of financial and human resources, definition of family practice as a subject rather than a specialty, and a perceived lack of interest among students.

Inclusion of family medicine into medical education in Latin America has been slow. Unless strategies can be developed to increase training for family physicians in Latin American countries, governments in the region will have difficulty expanding primary health care services in their systems. Support is needed from governments, public health officials, funding agencies and organizations, and the academic community to increase training of family physicians in Latin America.