Background: Medical students' decreasing interest in surgical careers has raised much concern. This report is to ascertain the influence of surgical clerkship on the perceptions of medical students on prospects of a future career interest in surgery.Methods: A cross sectional study, involving final year medical students. Information concerning their interest in a surgical career, what they thought of surgery before and after general surgery clerkship was obtained.Results: A total of 120 medical students participated in the study. The age range was 24 - 36years (mean 27+2). There were 87 (72.5%) males and 33(27.5%) females. Ten students (8.0%) were interested in surgery before their last surgery clerkship, 18 (15%) Obstetric and Gynaecology, 92(76.6%) others. Those that developed interest in surgery following the clerkship increased to 33 (27.5%) (P
