Professional trajectories of graduates from academic master's programs in Collective Health and Public Health in Brazil (2014–2023)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the professional trajectories of graduates from academic master’s programs in Collective Health or Public Health in Brazil between 2014 and 2023. A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted, including 553 graduates from 14 programs. Frequency analyses and Pearson’s chi-square tests were used to assess differences according to five-year periods, based on the year of master’s completion, and the main subarea to which the dissertation was linked: Social Sciences and Humanities in Health, Epidemiology, or Health Policy, Planning, and Management. Regarding experiences prior to the master’s program, 31.3% had completed a residency program, 60.9% had worked in the Brazilian Unified Health System, and 46.7% had worked in the private sector. After completing the master’s program, 33.3% were enrolled in or had completed a doctoral program in Collective Health, while 12.5% had done so in other areas. Regarding technical-care roles, 18.7% were working in Primary Health Care at the time of data collection, while 15.7% had previously worked in this setting; 2.9% were working in Psychosocial Care Centers, while 3.1% had previously done so; and 19.5% were working in hospitals or outpatient services, while 11.2% had previously worked in these services. With regard to management positions, 35.1% were currently working or had previously worked in such roles. As for higher education teaching, 29.1% were working as faculty members at the time of data collection, while 16.6% had previously done so. Approximately 10% had worked in all three areas: higher education teaching, management, and technical-care roles; and 40.9% had worked in at least two of these areas. For 85.8% of the graduates, the master’s program was considered “very important” or “important” for their current work. Some associations were observed according to the five-year period of master’s completion and the main subarea to which the dissertation was linked. The findings reinforce the importance of academic master’s programs in Collective Health.