FATORES ASSOCIADOS À RETENÇÃO E INTENCIONALIDADE DE EVASÃO NOS CURSOS DE FARMÁCIA DE UMA UNIVERSIDADE PÚBLICA DO NORDESTE BRASILEIRO

: 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 is a cross-sectional study conducted between July and December 2019 with students of two Pharmacy undergraduate degrees, at the Federal University of Sergipe. To collect data collection, 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 and thirty-five students participated in the study, 132 from the Lagarto campus and 203 students 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) had the intention to drop out of the course. Among the factors that lead to dropout intentions are: "schedule of the disciplines offered", "curriculum matrix", "teaching methodology", "form of evaluation", "relationship between student and teacher/coordinator", "interpersonal relationships", "student assis tance", “low remuneration of the professional", "financial difficulties", "lack of study skills", "difficulties of adaptation to the university", "discontent or demotivation with the course", "learning difficulties, translated into disapproval and low frequency", "non-adaptation to the course", and "mental health problem". The results reinforce the need for strategies that support students during undergraduate studies to reduce the impact of retention and dropout in higher education.