The feminization of Medicine in Brazil

Abstract

Aiming to settle the historical evolution of physicians’ distribution in Brazil by gender, an ecological study wasconducted by secondary database cross-checking (linkage). For a general characterization of the physicianswere considered the 27 Regional Medicine Council, complemented by the National Medical Residency andthe Brazilian Medical Association databases. The results show that since 2009, among new registered doctorsthere are more women than men. Although men still prevail (60.1%) in the active physicians population, inthe group aged less than 29 years old, women have become majority. The consistent trend of increased participationof women in the medical profession in Brazil, observed over the past decades and intensified overthe past few years, indicates the need to reassess and readjust the proposals for implementation of publicpolicies in the area.