Table 1 Description of Study Participants

Students currently supported by UYDF (n = 50)

Bachelor of Medicine (MBChB) (23), pharmacy (7), physiotherapy (5), radiography (4), and then 2 each for audiology, nursing, occupational therapy, optometry and speech therapy, and dental therapy (1)

There were 29 (58%) females & 21 (42) males who participated in the study, Medical students were between there 2nd and 5th year of study.

The other students were 2nd or 3rd year students.

Individual interviews (IDIs) were held.

Graduates at rural hospitals who had qualified as a result of UYDF support (n = 25)

The Graduates included the professions of medicine (3), pharmacy (3), physiotherapy (3), nursing (1), dietetics (2), occupational therapy (3), dentistry (2), radiography (2), optometry (1), audiology (2), speech therapy (1), psychology (1) and social work (1).

Of the graduates n = 19 were women, of whom 11 were unmarried.

Three focus group discussions (FGDs) were held

Managers at rural hospitals where HCPs were based, and students worked in their holidays (n = 14)

The management included Chief Executive Officers [CEO] (2), Medical Managers (6), Human Resource Managers (1), Human Resource Practitioners (2) and Assistant Directors (District Human Resource) (3) who work closely with the UYDF in the placement of graduates and the identification of hospitals within that district where there are shortages.

Two of the three districts in KwaZulu-Natal where UYDF works were visited and managers from 7 of the 13 hospitals where UYDF operates participated.

Individual interviews (IDIs) were held