New Zealand Rural General Practitioners 1999 Survey--Part 2: gender issues

To compare and contrast the demographic and working characteristics of female and male rural general practitioners (GPs) in New Zealand, and to highlight issues specific to female rural GPs.

Anonymous postal questionnaires were sent to 559 rural GPs in November 1999.

Completed questionnaires were returned by 417 rural GPs (75%). Of the 338 rural GPs who fulfilled the inclusion criteria, 93 (28%) were female. Eighty percent of female rural GPs were younger than 45 years of age compared with 53% of male rural GPs (p < 0.01). Women were less likely to be in full-time practice (45% vs 90%) or own their own practice (63% vs 83%) (p < 0.01). Concerns about locum scarcities, overwork, excessive on-call, bureaucratic demands, and GP shortages were equally important to both genders--while issues of security, accreditation, and combining work and family were mentioned by female GPs.

Most of the quantitative gender differences could be explained by the female rural GPs being younger (80% in their child-bearing years). Recognising and addressing the specific difficulties faced by part-time female rural GPs, such as by providing more flexible work options, would create a more favourable environment, likely to retain and recruit more women.