Factors Associated With the Retention and Intention to Drop Out in a Pharmacy Undergraduate Degree at a Public University in Northeastern Brazil

Abstract

The study aimed to evaluate possible factors associated with retention and dropout at the Pharmacy degree of a public university in the Brazilian Northeast. This cross-sectional study was conducted between July and December 2019 with students of two Pharmacy undergraduate degrees at the Federal University of Sergipe. To collect data, we used an instrument that included: 1) sociodemographic data and 2) factors related to dropout intentions, questions about leave of absence, and failure in modules/disciplines. Three hundred thirty-five students participated, 132 from the Lagarto campus and 203 from São Cristóvão. Out of those, 69.30% (n = 232) were women, the majority (81.20%) between 18 and 24 years old, 60.90% (n = 204) declared themselves mixed race, 96.70% were single, and 5.10% (n = 17) had children. Regarding failure and intention to drop out, 176 (52.50%) stated that they had already failed, and 62.10% (n = 208) intended to drop out of the course. Among the factors that lead Author 4 -Data collection. Author 5 -Active participation in data analysis and review of final writing. Author 6 -Active participation in data analysis and review of final writing. Author 7 -Project coordinator, active participation in data analysis and review of final writing. Author 8 -Project coordinator, active participation in data analysis and review of final writing.