Abstract

TORRES-RENTERIA, Sergio  and  ESCOBAR-JIMENEZ, Christian. Determinants of desertion and permanence in the medical career: Evidence from the Ecuadorian Higher Education System. Revista Andina de Educación [online]. 2021, vol.5, n.1, e104.  Epub June 16, 2021. ISSN 2631-2816.  https://doi.org/10.32719/26312816.2022.5.1.6.

Student dropout has been studied as a multicausal phenomenon, although greater emphasis has been placed on analyzing personal and socioeconomic factors. This study aims to identify student characteristics related to dropout and retention in the Medicine career in Ecuador. We evaluated the socioeconomic characteristics of those enrolled in the medical career in Ecuador for 2013-2018 period in a descriptive and empirical correlational manner. Additionally, we analyzed the motivation for choosing the career of students who took the professional qualification exam for 2016 and 2017. The socioeconomic characteristics are highly homogeneous among students. Internet access, academic background, age, and schooling of the head of household differ between dropouts and non-dropouts. The correlational empirical analysis was not significant in explaining dropout. Interest in the study and family suggestions are the most outstanding options to choose a medical career. The dropout is 40 %. Socioeconomic factors do not seem to explain this phenomenon fully. Motivational factors and the fulfillment of personal objectives in career retention stand out.

Keywords : Dropout Permanence; Socioeconomic factors; Motivation.

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