Review of midwifery education in Uganda: Toward a framework for integrated learning and midwifery model of care

Abstract

Objective: To examine the current approach to midwifery education and deployment in Uganda against the backdrop of the evidence presented in the Lancet Series on Midwifery and the International Confederation of Midwives Global Standards for Midwifery Education. To make a distinction between 'Midwifery Model of Care' and training in maternal health nursing and highlight the need for midwifery education that is in alignment with international standards and reflexive to the realities of the Ugandan clinical context.

Setting/participants: A review of Ugandan nursing and midwifery education structure, curricula and current workforce configurations. A review of government reports and published literature regarding nursing and midwifery education.

Findings: The pathways for nursing and midwifery education in Uganda are too numerous and without clear pathways for educational advancement. The scope of practice for new graduates is not realistic to the context midwives will practice in. Overall, nursing and midwifery education curricula does not prepare graduates to International Confederation of Midwives Standards and lacks training and mentorship in the 'Midwifery Model of Care' making graduates closer to 'maternity nurses' than midwives.

Key conclusions: The Ugandan midwifery education curricula and model needs to bring education standards into alignment with International Confederation of Midwives such that midwives are equipped to practice using the Quality Maternal Newborn Care Framework. Until this is accomplished maternal and newborn mortality rates will remain high, Uganda will continue to lose one of it's greatest resources, it's human capital, and the Sustainable Development Goal 3 will remain out of reach.

Keywords: Maternal mortality; Midwifery; Midwifery education; Midwifery model of care; QMNC framework; Ugandan nursing and midwifery education.