Abstract
IntroductionStaffing of rural and remote facilities is a challenge throughout the world. Umthombo Youth Development Foundation (UYDF) has been running a rurally based scholarship scheme since 1999. The aim of this review is to present data on the number of students selected, their progress, graduation and work placement from inception of the scheme until 2013.MethodsData were extracted from the UYDF data base using a data collection template to ensure all important information was captured.ResultsSince 1999, 430 rural students across 15 health disciplines have been supported by UYDF. The annual pass rate has been greater than 89%, and less than 10% of students have been excluded from university. All graduates have spent time working in rural areas (excluding the 32 currently doing internships) and 72% (52/73) of those with no work-back obligation continue to work in rural areas.Discussion and conclusionThe UYDF model is built around local selection, compulsory academic and peer mentoring and social support, comprehensive financial support and experiential holiday work. The results are encouraging and highlight the fact that rural students can succeed at university and will come back and work in rural areas. With 46% of the South African population situated rurally, greater thought and effort must be put into the recruitment and training of rural scholars as a possible solution to the staffing of rural healthcare facilities. The UYDF provides a model which could be replicated in other parts of South Africa.
Highlights
Staffing of rural and remote facilities is a challenge throughout the world.Umthombo Youth Development Foundation (UYDF) has been running a rurally based scholarship scheme since 1999.The aim of this review is to present data on the number of students selected, their progress, graduation and work placement from inception of the scheme until 2013
The aim of this review is to present data on the number of students selected, their progress, graduation and work placement from inception of the UYDF scheme in 1999 until
Results from the last 15 years of the UYDF are significant and highlight that rural students can succeed at university with appropriate support
Summary
Staffing of rural and remote facilities is a challenge throughout the world.Umthombo Youth Development Foundation (UYDF) has been running a rurally based scholarship scheme since 1999.The aim of this review is to present data on the number of students selected, their progress, graduation and work placement from inception of the scheme until 2013. Staffing of rural and remote facilities is a challenge throughout the world. Résultats: Depuis 1999, 430 étudiants ruraux dans 15 disciplines de la santé ont été aidés par l’UYDF. Tous les diplômés ont travaillé en zone rurale (à l’exception des 32 qui sont en train de faire leur stage) et 72% (52/73) de ceux qui n’ont pas à rembourser leur bourse par le travail continuent à travailler dans les zones rurales. Staffing of rural and remote health facilities is a challenge throughout the world. In Australia, Canada and the United States of America, recruiting rural origin scholars who return to work in rural areas after training has been shown to be an effective strategy for increasing staffing levels at rural and remote facilities.[3,4]. Various strategies have been employed to increase the number of rural origin students in these countries. These include the promotion of careers in medicine at high schools, reservation of a certain percentage of places for rural origin students at medical schools, increasing the rural content and exposure to rural medicine at university, and recently the development of rurally located medical schools.[5]
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