Table 2.

Push factors or reasons midwifery students are unlikely or definitely would not work in deprived rural area in Ghana.

Push factors	Primary	Secondary	Tertiary	Intervention category
1. Lack of training opportunities	13.1%	4.1%	11.0%	Educational or
2. Cut off from information sources (e.g. scholarships, promotion opportunities)	2.1%	3.4%	10.3%	regulatory
3. Difficult to return to school for further education	18.6%	10.3%	9.0%
4. Little access to centralized employment-related support	1.4%	2.1%	1.4%	Professional and personal support
5. Insufficient professional support and mentorship	0.0%	5.5%	2.1%
6. Poor quality of clinical facilities	26.2%	13.8%	6.9%
7. Poor housing	6.2%	9.7%	6.9%
8. Lack of opportunities to meet potential partner	2.1%	2.8%	4.1%
9. Little employment opportunities for spouse/partner	0.0%	0.7%	3.4%
10. Poor quality of education for children	6.2%	18.6%	11.0%
11. Lack of social amenities	8.3%	13.1%	17.2%
12. Limited career progression opportunities	2.8%	6.9%	6.9%
13. Insufficient financial incentives	9.7%	6.9%	4.1%	Financial incentives
14. Lack of travel opportunities	1.4%	1.4%	2.1%	Other
15. Mentors and teachers advise against it	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
16. Language barrier	1.4%	0.7%	2.8%
17. Other reason	0.7%	0.0%	0.0%
18. Don't know/Rather not say	0.0%	0.0%	0.7%
	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%

Bold values indicate the top three reasons cited by participants.