Career Intentions in Anatomy: Perspectives of final-year medical students at St. Francis University College of Health and Allied Sciences, Ifakara, Tanzania

Morro, Rahabu Marwa and Tibenderana, Jovin R and Jotham, Seth and Mlaga, Salvatory Makweta (2025) Career Intentions in Anatomy: Perspectives of final-year medical students at St. Francis University College of Health and Allied Sciences, Ifakara, Tanzania. Open Access Research Journal of Science and Technology, 14 (2). pp. 100-106. ISSN 2782-9960

Background: Globally, there is a shortage of healthcare professionals specializing in Anatomy. This shortage has implications, as a decline in field specialists may hinder the quality of future medical education. This study, therefore, aimed to assess the interest, influencing factors, and perceived barriers related to specializing in Anatomy among fifth-year medical students at St. Francis University College of Health and Allied Sciences (SFUCHAS). Methodology: The study utilized a descriptive cross-sectional design in which 111 fifth-year medical students were conveniently recruited. Mean and standard deviation were used to summarize continuous variables, while frequencies and percentages were used to summarize categorical variables. Results: The study involved 111 fifth-year medical students (mean age 25.9 ± 3.13 years; 64.86% female). While a significant majority (81.98%) would recommend Anatomy specialization to peers, only 28.83% expressed personal interest in pursuing it. A larger proportion was neutral (38.74%) or not interested (32.43%), with less than half (45.05%) considering Anatomy as a viable career option. Key barriers discouraging specialization were identified as financial concerns (59.46%) and limited job opportunities (58.56%). Lack of mentorship (47.75%) and perceived low prestige (38.74%) were also notable challenges. Factors influencing the decision to specialize included career opportunities (66.67%), work-life balance (60.36%), and intellectual satisfaction (60.36%). Conclusion: This study reveals a critical paradox among final-year medical students at SFUCHAS: while Anatomy specialization is widely recommended to peers, personal interest and perceived career viability remain low. The primary deterrents are financial constraints and perceived scarcity of job opportunities, among others. However, positive drivers like career prospects, intellectual satisfaction, work-life balance, and mentor influence highlight potential leverage points. Addressing the identified barriers, particularly through creating sustainable career pathways, financial support structures, and robust mentorship programs, is essential to attract more graduates to Anatomy specialization in Tanzania to mitigate the critical global shortage of Anatomy educators.