Marketplace Insertion and Professional Practice of Direct-Entry Midwives in Brazil: A Descriptive Study

Abstract

Background: One of the strategies that need to be adopted in Brazil is to train and insert a large number of qualified midwives into the job market in order to promote improvements in indicators related to maternal and perinatal health and the model of care. Considering the recent training of midwives and the lack of studies on their absorption into the healthcare system, this study had the objective of verifying the socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of midwives that graduated in 2008 and 2009 from the Direct-Entry Midwifery Program of the University of São Paulo, characterizing and analyzing their academic and professional trajectory, insertion into the job market, and professional practice in midwifery. Method: From November 2012 to March 2013, a descriptive and quantitative investigation was carried out with a population composed of 82 midwives, 41 of them who graduated in 2008 and 41 in 2009. Data were obtained by means of an on-line questionnaire applied electronically and composed of open-ended and closed-ended questions relative to the socioeconomic and demographic identification of the midwives, their academic and professional trajectory, their insertion into the job market, and professional practice in midwifery. Results: Of the total number of former students, 70.7% agreed to participate in the study and answered the questionnaire. Of this sample, 58.6% fit into the age bracket of 23 to 27 years, 70.7% were single, 96.6% were female, 63.8% lived in the city of São Paulo, 65.5% participated in extracurricular activities during their training, 43.1% participated in specialization or refresher courses after graduating, 51.7% participated in scientific events, 22.4% produced scientific studies, and 19% published in scientific journals. Only 34.5% indicated working or having worked as a midwife. Conclusions: The results allow the conclusion that, despite the effort to improve their academic and professional trajectory, the first midwives, who graduated in 2008 and 2009, faced great difficulties in getting into a healthcare market which needs skilled human resources and is resistant to the incorporation of new professionals and models of care.