Factors affecting migration abroad of dental practitioners from Karachi: A cross-sectional survey

This was a cross-sectional study. Survey was conducted from May 2016 to November 2016 among dentalpractitioners from four dental institutions of Karachi, two each from the public and private sector. From public sector, Dow University Hospital Dental Section Ojha Campus and Karachi Medical and Dental College, while from the private sector Baqai Medical University and Sir Syed College of Medical Sciences were randomly selected. After taking informed verbal consent, a total of 100 participants were interviewed using a self-administered questionnaire. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 21. Descriptive analysis was employed for categorical variables using frequencies and percentages. The findings of the study revealed the causes considered most important by the dental practitioners impacting migration abroad. Among the local push factors were bad law and order situation (59%), low salary (54%) and lack of job openings (53%) while local pull factor was mainly family responsibilities (40%). Foreign pull factors were better working environment (56%), high salary (52%) and enhancing knowledge and skills (50%) while the foreign push factor was racism (37%).