Analyse de l’implantation d’un plan d’action pour le renforcement du rôle professionnel de la sage-femme dans le Royaume du Maroc

As part of a national strategy for reaching the Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5 in Morocco – to reduce maternal and infant mortality - an action plan covering the three systems (socio-cultural, educational, disciplinary) in which evolves a health professional role was developed in order to strengthen the midwifery professional role. This thesis aims to assess the level of implementation of the action plan and to understand the contextual factors affecting its implementation and that may prevent reaching the targeted outcomes. We used a conceptual framework that builds on Hatem-Asmar’s model regarding the interaction between the socio-cultural, educational and disciplinary systems to change a health professional role; and on the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) for the implementation analysis of a health intervention.  A single case study design with three levels of analysis was chosen for this thesis. The data were collected through multiple data sources: 11 individual semi-structured interviews, 20 focus groups, observations of training activities, analysis of documents.  The results showed a significant deficit in the implementation. Sixteen barriers and seven facilitators encountered during the implementation were categorized into the four system’s dimensions. Misalignment between the dimensions (values, methods, actors and targets) of the socio-cultural system and those (values, methods, actors) of the educational and disciplinary systems on the one hand, and with the action plan on the other hand, prevent its global implementation. The bureaucratic structure and lack of readiness of the socio-cultural system were among the most influential barriers on: diffusion of information; involvement of key actors in the process, readiness of the educational system. The main facilitators were the values promoted with respect to human rights, and the political movement to strengthen midwives’ professional role and to reduce maternal mortality. The plan was perceived as beneficial but complex and externally driven. The results emphasize the need to overcome the barriers identified in the three systems in order to obtain contextual conditions favorable to achieve outcomes.  In addition, seven barriers were identified in the analysis that may compromise the achievement of the targeted outcomes. They relate to the: legal framework, social representations and media support at the socio-cultural system; and the practice environment, networks and communication mechanisms, characteristics related to the role and the readiness of the disciplinary system.   Our research confirms that conducting a change in the educational system represents a partially focused view for strengthening the midwives’ role. A combination of favorable contextual conditions at the dimensions of the three systems is required to achieve the goal of the government's strategy which is to provide qualified midwives according to the International Confederation of Midwives global standards for midwifery, able to provide quality reproductive health care, and to contribute to reducing maternal and neonatal mortality.

Keyphrases: Professional role change, Task shifting, Enhancement of a professional role, Implementation analysis, Level of program implementation, Midwife, Health professionals, Maternal mortality, Maternal health