A systematic review of the literature on the specialty preferences of Nigerian medical graduates: disparity between the literature and reality

Background: The Nigerian literature on the preference for specialties under the West African College of Physicians (WACP) among medical graduates reported a preference for core specialties (Internal Medicine and Paediatrics). This finding is at variance with the number of certified new fellows produced by different faculties under the WACP (reality). The aim was to compare the preference for specialties under the WACP by medical graduates in the published literature (2006–2017) with the number of new fellows produced by the faculties under the WACP (2006–2015) and provide explanations for any observed disparity.Methods: A systematic review was done on primary studies databases, which were searched electronically. Based on the inclusion criteria, 14 eligible studies were reviewed. The number of certified new fellows produced by the WACP in a 10-year period (2006–2015) was also analysed.Results: The reviewed studies were mainly of cross-sectional design. The majority of the studies (n = 12) reported Interna...