To end all preventable maternal and neonatal deaths, services such as those included in emergency obstetric and neonatal care (EmONC) are critical. Unfortunately, the interventions and delivery mechanisms that would ensure these life-saving services are accessible and high quality in low-income, conflict-affected settings remain unclear. We will assess midwifery education services and effectiveness in the country.
Objective:
To conduct operationally relevant research on the quality of midwifery education and effectiveness of innovative approaches to midwifery workforce development in the country, addressing gaps in the global evidence base on factors affecting midwifery workforce participation, retention, performance, and personal resilience during periods of increased insecurity.
To conduct operationally relevant research on the quality of midwifery education and effectiveness of innovative approaches to midwifery workforce development in the country, addressing gaps in the global evidence base on factors affecting midwifery workforce participation, retention, performance, and personal resilience during periods of increased insecurity.
Methods:
1. We will first conduct a rapid assessment of pre-service education in the selected locations. We will work with health professional associations and councils, as well as local government authorities and technical assistance programs (e.g., UNFPA programs in Somalia), to assess quality of existing pre-service education in the country against established global standards. We will examine the extent to which programs address safety and protection issues, gender-based violence (GBV), disability, and other stakeholder- identified concerns, and how they interact with vulnerable populations. We will highlight any discrepancies in definitions, practices, and training of skilled birth attendance (SBA).
2. The partners will also respond to demands for evaluating innovative midwifery workforce development strategies.
3. Finally, we will conduct longitudinal midwifery workforce cohort study to track midwifery graduates over a five-year period, using multi-disciplinary techniques to understand changes in employment, responsibilities and personal and professional stresses, and support networks during periods of insecurity. Data will be collected in urban and rural locations in Somalia for comparison.
1. We will first conduct a rapid assessment of pre-service education in the selected locations. We will work with health professional associations and councils, as well as local government authorities and technical assistance programs (e.g., UNFPA programs in Somalia), to assess quality of existing pre-service education in the country against established global standards. We will examine the extent to which programs address safety and protection issues, gender-based violence (GBV), disability, and other stakeholder- identified concerns, and how they interact with vulnerable populations. We will highlight any discrepancies in definitions, practices, and training of skilled birth attendance (SBA).
2. The partners will also respond to demands for evaluating innovative midwifery workforce development strategies.
3. Finally, we will conduct longitudinal midwifery workforce cohort study to track midwifery graduates over a five-year period, using multi-disciplinary techniques to understand changes in employment, responsibilities and personal and professional stresses, and support networks during periods of insecurity. Data will be collected in urban and rural locations in Somalia for comparison.