Dentist education and labour market in Mexico: elements for policy definition

Abstract

BackgroundHere, the educational and labour market characteristics of Mexican dentists are revised. Dentistry is a health profession that has been scarcely studied in developing countries. This analysis attempts to understand the relationships and gaps between the supply and demand of dentists in the country. Around 5000 new dentists graduate every year looking for a place in the labour market.MethodsA cross-sectional study with exploratory, descriptive and correlational scope was carried out between 2006 and 2008. Analyses of quantitative data on dentists from national surveys and occupational statistics were complemented with qualitative information provided by 43 key informants in five Mexican states.ResultsThe 2008 dentist labour market can be characterized as follows: 75% worked in the private sector, most of them independently; more than two-thirds were women; the proportion of specialists was low (slightly more than 10%); unemployment was more than 20% and labour wastage was nearly 40%, with most wastage corresponding with female dentists. The increase in the number of dentists entering the labour market during the last two decades is more related to the educational market than to the population’s health needs and the number of dentists actually required to meet them.ConclusionsThe problems identified in the Mexican dentist labour market necessitate urgent intervention on behalf of regulatory bodies in order to balance the tendencies of supply and demand in the number of trained professionals as well as in their incorporation into different market areas. Adequate policies are required to increase the likelihood of achieving this objective.

Human resources for health and universal health coverage: fostering equity and effective coverage

“…In the same period, infant mortality and under-five mortality more than halved: from 32.6 to 14.6 per 1000 live births and from 41 to 17.8 per 1000 live births, respectively. [38][39][40][41] Maternal mortality fluctuated over the period but was reduced by more than 50% overall, according to data from 2011. 42 Attrition between education and employment is an important workforce problem that remains to be addressed.…”

Exploratory scoping of the literature on factors that influence oral health workforce planning and management in developing countries

“…Authors reported a number of important consequences arising from the lack of national policy and regulation regarding oral health workforce management including insufficiently skilled or excessively trained personnel, maldistribution of services, unmet oral health needs and unequal access and use of resources . Data about the distribution of dentists are incomplete, and the lack of registration data of dentists and/or other health practitioners is frequently cited . Most articles reported dentist–population ratios; the dentist‐to‐population ratio was commonly used to highlight either the need for more oral health practitioners or to address (assumed) oversupply.…”

“…A lack of available positions or unsatisfactory job conditions was reported as a push factor . Government jobs (public sector) in DCs or LDCs are often less attractive due to the poorer remuneration or working conditions in underserved areas, and several studies highlighted the need for incentives for work in rural areas .…”

“…The education of dentistry students in DCs or LDCs has historically focused on a restorative approach and has lacked community and behavioural aspects in the curriculum . There appears to be insufficient commitment of educational institutions to train dentists in a way that responds to population oral health needs and demands . Many articles suggested governments and professional dental organizations have been discussing the importance of preventive oral health care for some time; however, to date in most DCs this has not been successfully implemented.…”

Perception of Nepalese dental hygiene and dentistry students towards the dental hygienists profession

“…The expectations of students and parents are often not met because the education system seems detached from the local labour market. The factors that encourage labour wastage should be examined, and data need to be collected about the number of graduates that find useful employment in areas for which they have been trained and those who are lost to the oral health workforce . To avoid labour wastage, students from the Diploma course need the opportunity to upskill themselves to a Certificate level.…”