Childbirth care in the demarcation of Tarragona endures structural pressure that exceeds the limits of care safety. Three simultaneous births compete for the attention of a single midwife instead of the individualized monitoring that marks ideal practice.
This saturation derives directly from a chronic deficit of specialized professionals that forces the majority of the collective into exhausting workdays.
Overwork and insufficient ratios
A study conducted in 2023 by the Official College of Nurses of Tarragona (CODITA) reveals that 70% of the midwives in the area work 60 hours per week. The shortage of relief generates an unsustainable workload for the available staff.
Currently there are 116 midwives in active service throughout the demarcation. This figure falls far short of international standards which recommend a ratio of 10 professionals for every 10,000 women.
The current ratio reached is 4.1 midwives per 10,000 female inhabitants. The health college calculates that it would be necessary to increase the number of professionals available in the system by 60% to guarantee dignified coverage.
Risk of functional collapse
The lack of time diminishes the quality of sexual and reproductive health tasks. The functions of these specialists range from preconception care to contraceptive workshops and menopause care.
The absence of continuous support increases the risk of patients suffering postpartum trauma. The CODITA warns of a real risk of functional collapse if the negative trend is not reversed.
"Here, we midwives have a community-based and evidence-based approach" - Gemma Martínez, registered midwife at CODITA
Martínez warns that the situation has not been reversed after the first wave of retirements. It is estimated that more than 30 midwives will retire in the next 10 years without a guarantee of generational replacement.
Talent drain to other communities
Despite the fact that the Nursing-Obstetric-Gynecological specialty is one of the most in-demand in the EIR specialized training system, the territory is losing personnel. The CODITA calculates that one third of Catalan midwives work in the rest of the Spanish State.
The collective seeks to strengthen its professional ties through knowledge exchange. This year the annual meeting, coinciding with the International Day of the Midwife, will be held at Ca Xapes, in Valls.
The event aims to foster debate on sexual and reproductive health in a context where job insecurity threatens the sustainability of the public care model.