Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Evaluation Of The Feasibility Of A Midwifery Educator Continuous Professional Development (Cpd) Programme In Kenya And Nigeria: A Mixed Methods Study, Duncan Shikuku, Hauwa Mohammed, Lydia Mwanzia, Alice Ladur, Peter Nandikove, Eunice Ndirangu, Alphonce Uyara, Catherine Waigwe, Lucy Nyaga, Issak Bashir

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background Midwifery education is under-invested in developing countries with limited opportunities for midwifery educators to improve/maintain their core professional competencies. To improve the quality of midwifery education and capacity for educators to update their competencies, a blended midwifery educator-specific continuous professional development (CPD) programme was designed with key stakeholders. This study evaluated the feasibility of this programme in Kenya and Nigeria.

Methods This was a mixed methods intervention study using a concurrent nested design. 120 randomly selected midwifery educators from 81 pre-service training institutions were recruited. Educators completed four self-directed online learning (SDL) modules and three-day practical training of the …

Nurses' Preparedness For Disaster Response In Rural And Urban Primary Healthcare Settings In Tanzania, Kahabi Isangula, Mary Lyimo, Yudas Ndungile, Elisha Robert

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Introduction: Nurses are often on the frontline of disaster management, providing care to patients with emerging physical, mental, and emotional turbulence, and acting as educators for health promotion and disaster prevention in both rural and urban contexts. However, the literature suggests that nurses are inadequately prepared for disaster response. This study examined preparedness for disaster response among nurses in rural and urban primary healthcare settings in Tanzania.

Methods: This qualitative descriptive study involved purposefully selected qualified nurses and nurse administrators working in rural (n=20) and urban (n=11) primary healthcare facilities in Tanzania. Telephone-based interviews were conducted to gather …

Midwives’ Associations’ Dual Role In Supporting Members And Driving The Profession Forward: A Qualitative Interview Study From Bangladesh, Mosammat Ratna Mon, Most Nargis Parvin, Joy Kemp, Sharmin Shobnum Joya, Christina Pedersen, Ulrika Byrskog, Kerstin Erlandsson

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Background: Professional midwives are being introduced as a long-term solution to improve maternal and newborn health in Bangladesh and to contribute to Universal Health Coverage. Professional midwives’ associations are a core element of a strong midwifery profession according to the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM). The Bangladesh Midwifery Society (BMS) was formed in 2010 to advocate for the introduction of professional midwifery in Bangladesh. Since 2017 BMS has benefitted from an international twinning partnership with the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) UK and has undergone significant organizational development.

Objective: The study aimed to describe the experiences, knowledge and attitudes of …

Professional Image Of Nursing And Midwifery In East Africa: An Exploratory Analysis, Eunice Ndirangu, Ahmed Sarki, Columba Mbekenga, Grace Edwards

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background: Evidence suggests that there is a negative image of nursing and midwifery that does not promote these professions as attractive career options. Furthermore, there is a paucity of studies documenting how nursing and midwifery is perceived in East Africa and where such studies exist they are country-specific. The aim of this study was to explore views regarding the image of nursing and midwifery among nurses and midwives in three East African countries, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

Methods: An exploratory descriptive cross-sectional study administered online using Survey Monkey Questionnaires assessed the views and perceptions of nurses and midwives regarding the …

Maternal And Newborn Care During The Covid-19 Pandemic In Kenya: Re-Contextualising The Community Midwifery Model, Rachel Kimani, Rose Maina, Constance Shumba, Sheila Shaibu

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Peripartum deaths remain significantly high in low- and middle-income countries, including Kenya. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted essential services, which could lead to an increase in maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity. Furthermore, the lockdowns, curfews, and increased risk for contracting COVID-19 may affect how women access health facilities. SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus that requires a community-centred response, not just hospital-based interventions. In this prolonged health crisis, pregnant women deserve a safe and humanised birth that prioritises the physical and emotional safety of the mother and the baby. There is an urgent need for innovative strategies to prevent the …

Caesarean Section Rates In South Asian Cities: Can Midwifery Help Stem The Rise?, Sulochana Dhakal Rai, Amudha Poobalan, Rafat Jan, Malin Bogren, Juliet Wood, Ganesh Dangal, Pramod Regmi, Edwin Van Teijlingen, Keshar Bahadur Dhakal, Sahib Jan Badar, Farhana Shahid

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Introduction: Caesarean section (CS) is a life-saving surgical intervention for delivering a baby when complications arisein childbirth. World Health Organization recommends a rate of CS from 10% to 15%. However, CS rates increased steadily in recent decades and have almost doubled from 12.1% in 2000 to 21.1% in 2015. Therefore, this has become a global public health problem. The main purpose of the scoping review article is to give an overview and analysis of the rising CS use in four South Asian countries: Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan.
Methods: A scoping review was carried-out using several bibliographic electronic databases (MEDLINE, …

Higher Education In Midwifery In Pakistan: A Proposed Framework, Rafat Jan, Arusa Lakhani, Karyn Kaufman

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Access to a skilled professional midwife is the right of each woman. Research evidence shows that midwives prepared to international standards decrease rates of morbidity and mortality and promote health of both mothers and infants. At present, in Pakistan, there are several midwifery cadres, with different formal education levels, who provide maternal and child health services. There are currently three types of diploma programs each serving a different cadre. Until 2012, there was no opportunity to obtain higher education in midwifery in the country. This absence contributed to non-acceptance and invisibility of midwifery as a profession. As a result, midwives …

Collaborative Task-Sharing To Enhance The Point-Of-Care Ultrasound (Pocus) Access Among Expectant Women In Kenya: The Role Of Midwife Sonographers, Sudhir Vinayak, Sharon Brownie

Imaging & Diagnostic Radiology, East Africa

Unrealized maternal and child health goals continue to challenge Kenya where adverse outcomes remain high and diagnostic services are limited. The acute shortage of doctors and radiographers requires alternate human resources for health (HRH) with the ability to identify risk factors in pregnancy through Point-Of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS). A specialist radiologist and ultrasonography team partnered with midwives to adopt interprofessional task sharing and capacity building. Faculty from the Radiology Department of our hospital designed and implemented the project which was carried out at three outreach health service centres. Designing and implementing a training model to skill midwife sonographers with the capacity …

Building A New Generation Of Midwifery Faculty Members In Bangladesh, Malin Bogren, Sathyanarayanan Doraiswamy, Kerstin Erlandsson

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

This paper presents an initiative to build a new generation of midwifery faculty in Bangladesh, with the ultimate objective of providing insight into how to build capacity in the midwifery faculty to best utilize the existing academic, health care and policy environment. The initiative focuses on a promising approach that starts with a new generation of midwifery faculty who can lead a chain of change when separating midwifery teaching from nursing. The initiative identified four different interdependent components of equal importance, namely the initiation of master’s and bachelor’s degrees, development of accreditation guidelines and tools, and a mentorship programme. Building …

The Historical Development Of The Midwifery Profession In Bangladesh, Malin Bogren, Farida Begum, Kerstin Erlandsson

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Sexual and reproductive health and rights have been identified as the core areas of practice, theory and research for the midwifery profession. The midwifery profession, as defined by the International Confederation of Midwives Global Standards, is new in Bangladesh. This paper aims to give an overview of the historical process that has taken place in the past decades to develop the midwifery profession in Bangladesh. The professional development of midwives is the result of many years of collaboration and relationship building among stakeholders such as the government, non-government organizations, academia, professional associations, United Nations agencies, and donors. All are working …

Needs And Expectations: A Membership Survey Of The Midwifery Association In Afghanistan, Sabera Turkmani, Cristina De Nicolás, Fatima Gohar, Pashtoon Azfar Zyaee

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

A survey of the Afghan Midwives Association (AMA) members was conducted in April 2013 to determine the profile of the midwifery workforce, and to provide guidance on the professional needs and expectations of midwives in the future. Of the estimated 3,000 members across the country, around 500 participated in the Annual Congress, 400 questionnaires were distributed randomly among participants, and 357 were returned (89% response rate representing 12% of the overall membership).

The results showed that most members are pleased with the Association, and value its work, particularly its ability to advocate on their behalf with the Ministry of Public …

Midwifery In Chile - A Successful Experience To Improve Women´S Sexual And Reproductive Health: Facilitators & Challenges, Eduardo Lillo, Sandra Oyarzo, Jorge Carroza, Anita Román

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Midwives have had a major presence in the Chilean Health System since 1834, just a few years after the country’s independence from Spain. Since then, the professionalization and expertise achieved by professional midwives has resulted in considerable improvement in women’s sexual and reproductive health.

Today, the maternal Mortality Ratio is rated the second lowest in the Americas (16 deaths per 100,000 live births), and midwives take care of virtually all deliveries in the public system, in both rural and urban women’s health care units (99.8%). Such figures have been attained after many years of hard work; and, as a consequence, …

Supporting Healthy Futures For East Africa: Celebrating 15 Years Of Partnership In Nursing Education. School Of Nursing And Midwifery In East Africa, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya, Sharon Brownie, Walter Robb, Lyndal Hunter, Cliff Aliga, Isabel Kambo, Atem Machar, Joseph Mwizerwa, Judith Mutyabule, M. Namuguzi, Carolyne Namukwaya, Esther Nderitu, Leah Sande, Victor Skrzypczynski, Muneerah Vastani, Mariana Xavier

Books

This impact evaluation study was designed on the basis of quality and accountability. It focused on sourcing evidence regarding the impact and achievements of a 15-year investment in nursing education and workforce capacity building. The study was also designed to enhance alumni connection and establish sustainable models for monitoring and evaluation.

News & Events

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

No abstract provided.

Strengthening Midwifery Education, Regulation And Association; A Case Study From Afghanistan, Sabera Turkmani, Fatima Gohar, Farida Shah, Saleha Hamnawazada, Pashtoon A. Zyaee

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

Immediately after the fall of the Taliban in 2002, the midwifery system in Afghanistan underwent a massive reform, and Afghanistan has since developed a strong midwifery pre service educational (PSE) system to achieve the relevant MDG goals. Establishment and involvement of professional associations, and partnerships with the government and other key stakeholders have contributed in shared knowledge, resources, and coordinated activities to speed up achieving these goals.

The International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) and its partners believe that the midwifery profession needs to be a strong voice in reducing maternal and child mortality. The three pillars of the midwifery profession, …

National Skills Training Centre In India, Manju Chhugani, Ashin Merlin

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

A key determinant which can ensure the quality of healthcare in public health institutions is the skill set of the individuals providing service delivery. Health professionals possess the skills and the expertise in this respect; however, they fail to utilize these optimally. This is because there is a disconnect between their knowledge and practice, it is now imperative tobridge the gap between basic education and clinical practice. The creation of skill labs is one way in which this gap can be addressed. Though India has seen a decline inboth the Maternal and Infant Mortality Rates, significant changes are yet to …

News & Events

Journal of Asian Midwives (JAM)

No abstract provided.