A description of the practice of advanced midwives

[摘要] English: Midwives, in the absence of medical practitioners are the most readily available health professionals to render care in Primary and Community Health Care settings. After obtaining a qualification in Advanced Midwifery and Neonatology, midwives should be placed and utilized in areas where they can use their competencies for the benefit of the mother and the baby. The aim of this study was to describe the practice of advanced midwives including their placement and utilization. A non-experimental and descriptive design was used. After a thorough literature analsis as well as a focus group discussion was done, a questionnaire for data collection was compiled. The data was collected after approval was obtained from the relevant roleplayers as well as from the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Health Science from the local University. The population consisted of all (178) practicing advanced midwives who trained at the University of the Free State during 1995-2007. No sampling was done and 178 questionnaires were distributed to the practicing advanced midwives. Sixty nine questionnaires were returned (39% return rate) and analysed. The findings indicated that only 13 (n=13, 19%) of advanced midwives were placed and utilized correctly. Advanced midwives that were not placed and utilized correctly expressed a loss of self-confidence, lack of support and a lack of recognition. They also reported an inability to demonstrate their expertise in practice due to inappropriate placement and utilization. Nurse academics and Advanced midwifery Practitioners should publish research articles in Health Sciences Journals to make their competencies known. That might ensure that they are recognized by their colleagues and given the opportunity to practice what they have trained for.

[发布机构] University of the Free State