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Bogren M, Jha P, Sharma B, Erlandsson K. Development of a Quality Assurance Assessment Tool to meet accreditation standards for midwifery education: A Delphi study. Women Birth 2024; 37:101660. [PMID: 39047523 DOI: 10.1016/j.wombi.2024.101660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ensuring the quality of midwifery education is critical for producing a qualified and competent midwifery workforce for sexual, reproductive, maternal, and newborn care services. While global standards advocate for quality enhancement and accreditation systems, challenges persist, particularly in low-income countries like Bangladesh. AIM To validate and culturally adapt a Quality Assurance Assessment tool aligned with global midwifery education standards for application in Bangladesh. The goal of the tool is to guide and assess an internal quality education assurance process tailored to meet the national accreditation standards. METHODS A modified Delphi technique was conducted with a panel of 55 experts, including educators, principals, and researchers from Bangladesh, India, and Sweden. The study underwent three rounds: tool development, field testing, and consensus building. RESULTS The first round was completed by 25 workshop panel members, the second was completed by 30 participants during field testing, and the third was completed by the 25 workshop panel members from the first round. The developed Quality Assurance Assessment Tool demonstrated face and content validity through expert consultation and field testing, aligning with both global education and national accreditation standards. Minor revisions enhanced clarity and feasibility. CONCLUSION The Delphi rounds resulted in a validated Quality Assurance Assessment Tool that offers a robust framework for assessing and enhancing midwifery education quality, aiding progress towards meeting national accreditation standards. This study provides a valuable resource for countries seeking to develop similar tools aligned with global and national education priorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malin Bogren
- Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Arvid Wallgrens backe 1, Gothenburg 413 46, Sweden.
| | - Paridhi Jha
- Foundation for Research in Health Systems, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Bharati Sharma
- Indian Institute of Public Health, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India
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Begum F, Ara R, Islam A, Marriott S, Williams A, Anderson R. Health System Strengthening Through Professional Midwives in Bangladesh: Best Practices, Challenges, and Successes. GLOBAL HEALTH, SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2023; 11:e2300081. [PMID: 37903587 PMCID: PMC10615233 DOI: 10.9745/ghsp-d-23-00081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023]
Abstract
In 2008, a cadre of professional midwives was introduced in Bangladesh. Since then, 120 midwifery educational programs have been established. There are 2,556 midwives serving at 667 government health facilities, and there are more midwives working in nongovernmental organizations and the private sector. This case study documents the process of establishing a midwifery profession with distinct midwifery expertise in Bangladesh and aims to guide other low- and middle-income countries in best practices and challenges. We describe the national administrative groundwork for the profession's launch, roll-out of an education program aligned with the International Confederation of Midwives, national deployment, enabling environments in deployment, and the professional association. Bangladesh's professional midwives' roles in humanitarian response and the COVID-19 pandemic are also discussed. The first and final authors were closely involved in supporting the government's establishment of the profession, and their direct experience is drawn upon to contextualize the topics. In addition, the authors conducted a desk review of documents that supported the profession's integration into the health system and documented its results. Both routine program data and existing research studies were reviewed. Outcomes show that midwives are deployed to 95% of government subdistrict hospitals. About 50% of these hospitals are fully staffed with 4 midwives, and within the hospitals, midwives are in charge of 90% of the maternity wards and attend 75%-85% of the births. Since the midwives' deployment, significant quality improvement for most World Health Organization indicators has been found, along with increases in service utilization. The experience of establishing a new midwifery profession in Bangladesh shows that it is possible for a lower middle-income country to introduce a globally standard midwifery profession, distinct from nursing, to improve quality sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, and adolescent health services in both humanitarian and development settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farida Begum
- United Nations Population Fund, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Rowsan Ara
- United Nations Population Fund, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Amirul Islam
- United Nations Population Fund, Dhaka, Bangladesh
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Curley A, Jones LK, Staff L. Barriers to Couplet Care of the Infant Requiring Additional Care: Integrative Review. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:healthcare11050737. [PMID: 36900743 PMCID: PMC10001342 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11050737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Historically, once the baby was born, the mother and baby were separated shortly after birth into a postnatal ward and a baby nursery. Overtime, with advances in neonatology led to an increasing number of neonates being separated from their mothers at birth for specialised neonatal care if they required additional needs. As more research has been undertaken there is an increasing focus that mothers and babies should be kept together from birth, termed couplet care. Couplet care refers to keeping the mother and baby together. Despite this evidence, in practice, this is not happening. AIM to examine the barriers to nurses and midwives providing couplet care of the infant requiring additional needs in postnatal and nursery. METHODS A thorough literature review relies on a well-developed search strategy. This resulted in a total of 20 papers that were included in this review. RESULTS This review revealed five main themes or barriers to nurses and midwives providing couplet care: models of care, systems and other barriers, safety, resistance, and education. DISCUSSION Resistance to couplet care was discussed as being caused by feelings of lack of confidence and competence, concerns around maternal and infant safety and an under-recognition of the benefits of couplet care. CONCLUSION The conclusion is that there is still a paucity of research in relation to nursing and midwifery barriers to couplet care. Although this review discusses barriers to couplet care, more specific original research on what nurses and midwives themselves perceive to be the barriers to couplet care in Australia is needed. The recommendation is therefore to undertake research into this area and interview nurses and midwives to ascertain their perspectives.
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İsbir GG, Guner S, Beşen MA, Thomson G. Evaluation of labour and birth education by midwifery educators: A qualitative study from Turkey. Nurse Educ Pract 2023; 66:103515. [PMID: 36481496 DOI: 10.1016/j.nepr.2022.103515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Midwifery students' education regarding labor and birth is crucial because it directly affects the quality of care provided to women in labor. AIMS Exploring educators' experiences of delivering labor and birth education to midwifery students and evaluating the circumstances that affect the quality of labor and birth education METHODS: This was a qualitative study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 educators teaching midwifery in 16 midwifery departments at universities in Turkey. Inductive thematic analysis was conducted. All transcripts were evaluated by two researchers, and codes were created. The codes formed the subthemes in terms of similarities and differences; themes were created based on combining subthemes. FINDINGS Three themes were identified. The first - "impacts of global changes on labor and birth education"- shows how labor and birth is affected by changing policies, philosophies, individuals, and cultures. The second theme - "opportunities/obstacles in labor and birth education"- shows how sources of information, as well as individual and systemic factors, create opportunities or obstacles for the quality of labor and birth education. The final theme - "recommendations for quality labor and birth education"- presents participants' suggestions for the effective integration of courses, use of sources of information, and updating of curriculum. DISCUSSION Changing policies, philosophies, individuals, and cultures affect labor and birth education. Individual and systemic factors and information sources create opportunities or barriers for the quality of labor and birth education. CONCLUSION A positive childbirth experience is a basic human right for both women and newborns. This can be made possible by professionals who have received quality labor and birth education. Thus, investment in midwifery education is an important cost-effective approach to improving health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sevil Guner
- Mersin University, School of Health, Midwifery Department, Turkey.
| | | | - Gillian Thomson
- Maternal and Infant Nutrition and Nurture Unit, University of Central Lancashire, Preston PR1 2NE, UK.
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Luegmair K, Ayerle GM, Steckelberg A. Midwives' action-guiding orientation while attending hospital births - A scoping review. SEXUAL & REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE 2022; 34:100778. [PMID: 36152453 DOI: 10.1016/j.srhc.2022.100778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Following the "call for action to research", various aspects of maternity care should be examined so that perinatal care can be improved based on evidence. Clinical midwifery is the most common way of attending births in high-income countries. Midwives are the experts for normal labor and birth and play a central role in caring for women giving birth in a hospital setting. The aim of this scoping review was to explore midwives' action-guiding orientation in their care provision during hospital births in high-income countries. Four databases (CINAHL, PubMed, MEDLINE and PSYNDEX) were searched systematically for studies in English or German on midwives' action-guiding orientation during hospital labor and birth, published between 2000 and February 2022. Only studies from peer-reviewed journals were included. Reporting followed the PRISMA-ScR statement for scoping reviews. From a total of 1572 studies, 26 studies with 4 different research designs were included in the narrative synthesis. The synthesis shows 7 central concepts that emerge in the studies: medicalization of birth versus woman-centered care; midwives' knowledge and experience; midwives' professional identity; midwives' confidence or autonomy in practice; intra-professional and multi-professional relations; continuity of care and relationship with the woman; and working conditions and cultural context. The central concept most reflective of midwives' action-guiding orientation was "medicalization of birth versus woman-centered care." Other elements that affect midwives' action-guiding orientation and represent influencing factors at the micro, meso, and macro levels of obstetric care must be considered if one is to understand the profession and work of midwives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Luegmair
- Institute of Health and Nursing Science, Martin Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg, Germany; Katholische Stiftungshochschule München, University of Applied Sciences, München, Germany.
| | - Gertrud M Ayerle
- Institute of Health and Nursing Science, Martin Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg, Germany.
| | - Anke Steckelberg
- Institute of Health and Nursing Science, Martin Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg, Germany.
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Batinelli L, Thaels E, Leister N, McCourt C, Bonciani M, Rocca-Ihenacho L. What are the strategies for implementing primary care models in maternity? A systematic review on midwifery units. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2022; 22:123. [PMID: 35152880 PMCID: PMC8842978 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-022-04410-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Midwifery Units (MUs) are associated with optimal perinatal outcomes, improved service users’ and professionals’ satisfaction as well as being the most cost-effective option. However, they still do not represent the mainstream option of maternity care in many countries. Understanding effective strategies to integrate this model of care into maternity services could support and inform the MU implementation process that many countries and regions still need to approach. Methods A systematic search and screening of qualitative and quantitative research about implementation of new MUs was conducted (Prospero protocol reference: CRD42019141443) using PRISMA guidelines. Included articles were appraised using the CASP checklist. A meta-synthesis approach to analysis was used. No exclusion criteria for time or context were applied to ensure inclusion of different implementation attempts even under different historical and social circumstances. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to reflect the major contribution of higher quality studies. Results From 1037 initial citations, twelve studies were identified for inclusion in this review after a screening process. The synthesis highlighted two broad categories: implementation readiness and strategies used. The first included aspects related to cultural, organisational and professional levels of the local context whilst the latter synthesised the main actions and key points identified in the included studies when implementing MUs. A logic model was created to synthesise and visually present the findings. Conclusions The studies selected were from a range of settings and time periods and used varying strategies. Nonetheless, consistencies were found across different implementation processes. These findings can be used in the systematic scaling up of MUs and can help in addressing barriers at system, service and individual levels. All three levels need to be addressed when implementing this model of care.
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Moller AB, Welsh J, Ayebare E, Chipeta E, Gross MM, Houngbo G, Hounkpatin H, Kandeya B, Mwilike B, Nalwadda G, Petzold M, Sognonvi A, Hanson C. Are midwives ready to provide quality evidence-based care after pre-service training? Curricula assessment in four countries-Benin, Malawi, Tanzania, and Uganda. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 2:e0000605. [PMID: 36962507 PMCID: PMC10021168 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0000605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
This research sought to map midwifery pre-service training curricula as part of the Action Leveraging Evidence to Reduce perinatal morTality and morbidity in sub-Saharan Africa (ALERT) project conducted in Benin, Malawi, Tanzania, and Uganda. We conducted the review in two phases. In the first phase, online interviews were performed with the lead project midwives in all four study countries to get an overview of midwifery care providers' pre-service training courses, registration, and licensing requirements. We performed a mapping review of midwifery care providers' pre-service training curricula from different training institutions in the four study countries during the second phase. Curricula were reviewed and mapped against the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) Essential Competencies framework to assess whether these curricula included the minimum essential training components described in the ICM framework. We identified 10 different professional titles for midwifery care providers. The number of years spent in pre-service training varied from one and a half to four years. Ten pre-service curricula were obtained and the assessment revealed that none of the curricula included all ICM competencies. Main gaps identified in all curricula related to women-centred care, inclusion of women in decision making, provision of care to women with unintended or mistimed pregnancy, fundamental human rights of individuals and evidence-based learning. This review suggests that there are skills, knowledge and behaviour gaps in pre-service training curricula for midwifery care providers when mapped to the ICM Essential Competencies framework. These gaps are similar among the different training courses in participating countries. The review also draws attention to the plethora of professional titles and different pre-service training curricula within countries. Trial registration: PACTR202006793783148-June 17th, 2020.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann-Beth Moller
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Joanne Welsh
- Midwifery Research and Education Unit, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Effie Chipeta
- Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Centre for Reproductive Health, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Mechthild M Gross
- Midwifery Research and Education Unit, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Gisele Houngbo
- Centre de Recherche en Reproduction Humaine et en Démographie (CERRHUD), Cotonou, Benin
| | - Hashim Hounkpatin
- Centre de Recherche en Reproduction Humaine et en Démographie (CERRHUD), Cotonou, Benin
| | - Bianca Kandeya
- Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Centre for Reproductive Health, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Beatrice Mwilike
- School of Nursing, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
| | | | - Max Petzold
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Antoinette Sognonvi
- Centre de Recherche en Reproduction Humaine et en Démographie (CERRHUD), Cotonou, Benin
| | - Claudia Hanson
- Global Public Health, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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Barger MK. Current Resources for Evidence-Based Practice, January/February 2021. J Midwifery Womens Health 2021; 66:118-126. [PMID: 33599098 DOI: 10.1111/jmwh.13218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mary K Barger
- Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science, Beyster Institute for Nursing Research, University of San Diego, San Diego, California
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Mattison CA, Lavis JN, Wilson MG, Hutton EK, Dion ML. A critical interpretive synthesis of the roles of midwives in health systems. Health Res Policy Syst 2020; 18:77. [PMID: 32641053 PMCID: PMC7346500 DOI: 10.1186/s12961-020-00590-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Midwives' roles in sexual and reproductive health and rights continues to evolve. Understanding the profession's role and how midwives can be integrated into health systems is essential in creating evidence-informed policies. Our objective was to develop a theoretical framework of how political system factors and health systems arrangements influence the roles of midwives within the health system. METHODS A critical interpretive synthesis was used to develop the theoretical framework. A range of electronic bibliographic databases (CINAHL, EMBASE, Global Health database, HealthSTAR, Health Systems Evidence, MEDLINE and Web of Science) was searched through to 14 May 2020 as were policy and health systems-related and midwifery organisation websites. A coding structure was created to guide the data extraction. RESULTS A total of 4533 unique documents were retrieved through electronic searches, of which 4132 were excluded using explicit criteria, leaving 401 potentially relevant records, in addition to the 29 records that were purposively sampled through grey literature. A total of 100 documents were included in the critical interpretive synthesis. The resulting theoretical framework identified the range of political and health system components that can work together to facilitate the integration of midwifery into health systems or act as barriers that restrict the roles of the profession. CONCLUSIONS Any changes to the roles of midwives in health systems need to take into account the political system where decisions about their integration will be made as well as the nature of the health system in which they are being integrated. The theoretical framework, which can be thought of as a heuristic, identifies the core contextual factors that governments can use to best leverage their position when working to improve sexual and reproductive health and rights.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina A Mattison
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster Midwifery Research Centre, 1280 Main St. West, HSC-4H26, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada.
| | - John N Lavis
- McMaster Health Forum, 1280 Main St West, MML-417, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L6, Canada
| | - Michael G Wilson
- McMaster Health Forum, 1280 Main St West, MML-417, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L6, Canada
| | - Eileen K Hutton
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster Midwifery Research Centre, 1280 Main St. West, HSC-4H26, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Michelle L Dion
- Department of Political Science, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. West, KTH-533, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4M4, Canada
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