Midwifery department

PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION

four year Midwifery programme will support BSc. Midwifery candidates as they prepare themselves for working as registered midwives, primarily within the Somaliland health care system but having a qualification recognised elsewhere. It will prepare them to work at clinical level and, with experience, to support other midwives, nurses providing maternity carer, students and support staff, to support the development of evidence-based and client-friendly practice and the ongoing professional development of colleagues. It will also equip them with the analytical skills required to take the midwifery profession and service forward in appropriate, innovative and collaborative ways. They will form part of the multi-disciplinary health workforce in both rural and urban areas, and communities and institutions. A range of learning experiences and opportunities will be provided through working in Health centre, hospital and community environments, and field visits where appropriate as well as in classroom and skills laboratory settings. The BSc. Midwifery degree will be awarded to those completing the programme of studies successfully. The degree will be that awarded by the accredited university at which they have enrolled. Application for midwifery registration and a licence to practice will be made to the National Health Professions Commission (NHPC - professional regulatory body). This programme of studies fulfils the expectations of the WHO (2009) and ICM (2013) for graduate level preparation of midwives as well as strengthening the fulfilment of ICM competencies. It also responds to the global need for strengthening midwifery in order to make progress towards achieving the 2016-2030 Sustainable development goals (UNFPA 2014).

Programme Graduate attributes

Graduate attributes make it clear what those graduating from the midwifery degree programme will be like as practitioners and as people. They underpin curriculum decisions and the learning

opportunities made available for the students. Graduate attributes are the general skills,

understandings, and qualities they will demonstrate in their professional and personal lives.

As practising midwives, they are seen as competent to carry out the full role and scope of practice of midwives as described by the ICM (2011) (see Annexe 6), and adhere to the code of ethics and standards of the profession (ICM 2014 b).

Undergraduate studies provide opportunities for them to develop transferable skills and the capacity to move beyond the competent practitioner role and performance as they gain experience to become the leaders, managers, teachers, and change agents of the future. University education can be transformative encouraging self-awareness and personal growth. For this reason, the BSc.

Midwifery programme of studies focuses on general skills and processes of self-awareness and

development, review and reflection, enquiry and knowledge development, evaluation, analysis,

critical thinking, synthesis and creativity, and application to practice. Programme graduates will

Vision, aim and philosophy

The vision, mission and philosophy of the programme are described here so that the basis of

curriculum decisions is clear. This is also required by the WHO (2009) and ICM (2013 rev.a).

Midwives have their own internationally agreed philosophy (ICM 2014 a) .

Vision

The vision for the initial training Midwifery degree programme is that student midwives will be

prepared in such a way that they fulfill the academic requirements to graduate from their universities and the professional requirements of the government and professional associations based on internationally accepted competencies. They will be able to provide comprehensive midwifery care for the Somaliland (and wider) population in whatever environment it is needed, so supporting the health of communities in which they live and work. They will be at the forefront of the development of midwifery as a profession in Somaliland, and of the development of high quality health services.

The vision is also that university-based faculty and clinical staff will respect and trust each other and will recognise and use each other as experts.

Aim

The aim is that graduate midwives will

  • provide safe, competent and timely care to childbearing women and families
  • contribute to the reduction of maternal and infant morbidity and mortality
  • act at all times with honesty, integrity and without discrimination to people whatever their
  • ethnic group, faith, gender, nationality or culture
  • work in collaboration with the community and with professional colleagues
  • become lifelong learners who are able to reflect on and improve their practice and
  • encourage and support others to do the same
  • work toward the advancement of midwifery practice and the profession of midwifery as
  • leaders and change agents.

Philosophy

The curriculum is based on the following concepts and assumptions

Of the childbearing woman

  • A childbearing woman has social, cultural, spiritual, psychological and physical needs that should be respected.
  • A woman has impact on, and is affected by, the socio-cultural, spiritual, psychological and physical environment.
  • A woman has rights of self-determination regarding what happens to her in health, disability and illness regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, culture or socio-economic status.
  • A woman has the right to information and choice to facilitate such self-determination (ICN 2003).
  • A woman takes responsibility for her own well-being and that of her family to whatever extent possible and collaborates in positive ways to meet deficits.