Table 4.

Summary of push and pull factors identified by respondents

Push factors	Pull factors
Job security
No jobs available	Jobs available; colleagues, friends and recruiters telling them about opportunities
Lack of promotions
Risk of losing jobs due to lack of funds
Working conditions
Low salaries	Reasonable remuneration – able to save money
Non-payment of salaries (non-payment of housing allowance)
Deteriorating work environment/facilities
Inadequate medicine and equipment
Significant stress, overtime and generally poor conditions of service resulting in fatigue and burn-out	Regular workload
Inability to treat patients due to poor services and medicine
Impossible patient-health care provider ratios, making it difficult to give quality care	Reasonable conditions of work
Poor health human resources planning
Economic and political considerations
Disarray in severely economically depressed SSA countries	Canada a wealthy, democratic country
Political and racial upheaval	Not corrupt
Gender discrimination
Physical security
Carjackings	Safe country
Muggings
Significant criminality
Gender-based violence
Significant exposure to HIV – risk of infection through treatment of patients
Quality of life
Poor accommodation	Canada tolerant, multi-ethnic
Lack of transport to go to work	Good quality of life
Inability to live a decent life
Education
Diminishing quality of education for children	Greater opportunities for children – good education and ability to earn a decent living