Adequacy and sustainability of undergraduate midwifery programmes training course materials

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine the adequacy and sustainability of Undergraduate midwifery programmes training course materials. A quantitative survey method was employed to collect sustainability data from lecturers and clinical supervisors (N=33) and data on adequacy of the training course materials from graduated professional nurses doing their community service (N=34). The data was analyzed using SPSS programme for frequency distributions and percentages. More than 90% of the participants stated that the integrated PMTCT training course materials were sustainable. Participants stated that they were unlikely or very unlikely to exclude PMTCT competencies from the undergraduate midwifery programme: PICT (provider-initiated counselling and testing)/HCT (HIV counselling and testing) course unlikely (60.61%) and very unlikely (30.3%); antiretroviral therapy (ART) course unlikely (33.33%) and very unlikely (60.61%); PCR testing course unlikely (48.48%) and very unlikely (39.39%); and infant-feeding management course unlikely (27.27%) and very unlikely (66.67%). The course was regarded as very adequate or fairly adequate: PICT/HCT very (59%) and fairly adequate (49.2%); antiretrovirals/ART very (64.7%) and fairly adequate (32.4%); polymerase chain reaction training very (52.9%) and fairly adequate (41.2%); and infant-feeding options very (73.5%) and fairly adequate (26.5%). The results of this study show that PMTCT competency-based course materials were adequately provided to undergraduate midwifery students to equip them with necessary knowledge and skills in management of the PMTCT client. The PMTCT course was regarded as sustainable, which influences its continuation in the midwifery programme after the end of the PMTCT project.