ArticleGlobal health action2026
`This is our country and somehow, we have to make it work': a sequential explanatory mixed-methods study of the enablers of non-migration and return migration in a cohort of Nigerian medical doctors and dentists.
Article in Global health action, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
- Erratum issuedCorrection.2026
Authors and funding
21 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundWhile many studies have explored the drivers of health-worker emigration, there is limited understanding of the factors that potentially encourage them to remain or return after migration.
objectivesWe explored three interrelated questions: what factors encouraged some members of the study population to remain in Nigeria?; what circumstances might encourage those intending to migrate to reconsider their plans?; and what conditions could encourage those who have already emigrated to consider returning?
methodsWe conducted a sequential explanatory mixed-methods study among a cohort of Nigerian-trained doctors and dentists. In the quantitative phase, 274 cohort members completed a structured survey assessing drivers of migration. In the qualitative phase, 50 participants across three migration status groups (emigrated, intending to migrate, and not intending to migrate) were interviewed. Thematic analysis was conducted.
resultsOverall, 49.3% (135/274) of the cohort had already migrated within 15 years of qualifying, while 63.6% (82/139) of those still in Nigeria expressed an intention to migrate. Qualitative findings reinforced the quantitative results, highlighting shared potential enablers of staying (among those intending to migrate) or returning (among already migrated), including improved security, economic stability, better remuneration, stronger healthcare infrastructure, and enhanced training opportunities. Most of those who had already migrated expressed a willingness to return, though often as a long-term plan. Those with no intention to migrate cited a sense of duty and patriotism, family responsibilities, thriving businesses, and professional or age-related factors as reasons for staying back.
conclusionThis study offers actionable insights to inform policies on health-worker migration.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.