A scoping review of Australian literature examining factors that influence attrition from entry-to-practice midwifery programs, using thematic analysis across seven databases.
Three major themes emerged: **Financial Hardship** (unpaid placement burden, need for policy-driven support), **Demanding Course/Program Structure** (heavy workload, first-year vulnerability), and **Midwifery Practice Experience Environment and Disillusionment** (workplace violence, poor culture, and dissonance between student ideals and clinical reality).
- Scope limited to Australian literature only, reducing generalisability and potentially missing relevant grey literature. - Scoping reviews do not appraise study quality, so findings may reflect lower-quality evidence. - The exact number of studies included and total student populations covered are not reported in the abstract.
Midwifery educators and health policymakers should address financial barriers (e.g., paid placements), first-year support structures, and toxic clinical cultures to reduce student dropout. Retention strategies must be multi-pronged — financial aid alone is insufficient.
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