Perceptions of Family Medicine among first-year medical students at Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

Background: Family Medicine (FM) is vital in delivering comprehensive and continuous care essential for robust primary healthcare systems. However, it remains underappreciated in many settings, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
Aim: This study aimed to assess the perceptions of FM among first-year medical students at Aga Khan University (AKU), Kenya.
Setting: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between August 2024 and September 2024 among the first-year medical students at AKU. All were invited to participate via email.
Methods: An 18-item questionnaire focused on three areas: perception and choice of medicine as a career, perception of FM and choice of FM as a career. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data collected.
Results: Of the 59 first-year medical students, 49 participated (83% response rate). While 88% acknowledged FM’s importance, only 35% understood a family physician’s role. Only one participant indicated that they would choose FM as a career, while 61% were uncertain. Reasons for not considering FM included a lack of interest, limited knowledge and negative experiences with FM physicians. Only 16% reported that interactions with FM physicians and the first-year curriculum significantly improved their understanding of FM; many respondents disagreed that the first-year curriculum content advanced their understanding of FM.
Conclusion: Integration of FM into undergraduate curricula could promote students’ interest. Additional research is needed to explore perceptions among medical students at different levels of their training and across different medical schools in our region.
Contribution: This study establishes baseline perceptions of family medicine among first-year Kenyan medical students, identifying how knowledge gaps and limited curricular exposure undermine interest in the specialty.