[Female veterinary surgeons: a follow up study]

Questionnaires were sent out to 68 registered female veterinary surgeons in South Africa to obtain career information essential to vocational guidance. The 46 respondents represent 51,7% of the 89 female BVSc graduates up to 1981; their average age was 33,3 years, 63% were married, 30,4% were from the Pretoria area, 60,9% were living in the Transvaal, 52,2% had had 6 and more years of veterinary experience. All the comparisons done indicated that the response group was representative of the women who had obtained the BVSc degree from the University of Pretoria. Some of the more important findings were the following: No less than 97,8% of the response group are at present actively engaged in veterinary work--73,9% on a full-time basis. Asked what they would choose now, 84,8% of the respondents declared that they would choose veterinary science once again; 67,4% would like to see their daughters enter the profession. The most important reason for this positive attraction towards veterinary practice was given as "job satisfaction experienced". Respondents indicated the things that they liked about veterinary practice: factors intrinsic to the job like surgery, pathology and research topped the list followed by the opportunity to work with and help animals and also the variety experienced in their work. The most important grievances were firstly the general attitude and actions of the public--callousness of animal-owners and inconsiderate behaviour towards practitioners. Long and irregular hours, administrative red tape and insufficient technical help were also complaints.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)