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Background:

Midwifery is central in addressing and improving maternal and newborn health. Yet, economic barriers towards providing quality midwifery care linked to the midwife’s role and position exists. In Bangladesh, education for professional midwives per international standards has recently started. The perspectives from midwifery students placed in the intersection between theory and practice are thus central for the identification of economic barriers preventing quality midwifery care in the Bangladeshi setting.

Aim:

To describe midwifery students’ perceptions on midwives realities in Bangladesh from economic perspectives.

Methods:

A deductive qualitative design was chosen. Data were collected through focus group discussions, based on a topic guide and analyzed by deductive content analysis.

Results:

This study finds out that economical barriers in providing quality of midwifery care in Bangladesh exists. The result in this study showed that midwives perceived low or irregular salary, lack of support for housing and access to transport. Major barriers were limited possibilities for use of annual leave days, and delay in payment of salaries included low or irregular salary. Another barrier was unequal salary. It is great barrier that research finds in the field of midwife’s services, this unequal salary makes them in different to ensure quality service.

Conclusion/ Clinical application:

This study has provided insight on the midwifery students’ perceptions on midwives realities in Bangladesh from an economic perspectives. In order to strengthen the midwifery profession to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes, it is crucial to address these identified economical barriers. Understanding these economic challenges midwives face once deployed, provides a deepened insight in the reality what is expected once graduated. It is therefore suggested that existing policies need to address use of annual leave days, regular salary payment and a salary that is equal to their professional status within the health system.