Midwifery Workforce Development
Study to assess the quality of midwifery pre-service education and the effectiveness of different approaches for midwifery workforce development in low-income, conflict-affected countries. Through this assessment, EQUAL aims to improve understanding of the factors affecting midwifery workforce participation, retention, performance, and resilience during periods of increased insecurity.
WHAT
Midwives educated and regulated according to international standards can provide more than 80% of the essential care needed for women and their newborn babies. Quality midwifery education gives individuals the competencies needed to make an immediate impact. To date, there is limited evidence on the effectiveness of midwifery education models in conflict-affected settings and minimal documentation surrounding their capacity or retention post-deployment – especially in more fragile locations. Further study is needed to understand the factors that hinder and/or enable the effectiveness of midwifery education programs including those associated with socio-cultural context, insecurity, and gender.
WHY
EQUAL will conduct a rapid assessment of the quality of midwifery pre-service education programs available in EQUAL sites in Nigeria and Somalia. EQUAL will then enroll a cohort of midwifery students and graduates in the study and follow their experiences over several years. As part of this, EQUAL will identify factors affecting workforce participation, performance and retention, as well as document their experiences working in conflict-affected communities. This includes changes in responsibilities, personal and professional stressors, and support networks during periods of increased insecurity.
HOW
Yobe State, Nigeria; Benaadir and Galgaduud, Somalia