Factors influencing midwifery students’ choice of profession in the United Arab Emirates

Background/Aims A new direct entry 4-year Bachelor's midwifery programme has been implemented in the United Arab Emirates to expand the workforce. This study aimed to determine factors influencing students’ choice of midwifery as a profession. Methods This cross-sectional study distributed an online questionnaire to 34 midwifery students. Descriptive statistics and content analysis were used to analyse the data. Results For one-third of the participants (35.3%), midwifery was their first career choice. Three considered changing their profession, but all said they would recommend midwifery to others. The main professional/vocational factor that motivated their choice was helping patients. Personal factors included working in the medical field and having a passion for midwifery science. Two themes were identified: intrinsic and extrinsic motivations to pursue midwifery. Conclusions Caring and curiosity about the midwifery profession are key motivators for choosing midwifery. Implications for practice Understanding misconceptions about midwifery and the social context of those who choose to study it may help recruit students who are committed to the profession.