Abstract:
There is a global outcry that newly graduating midwives lack skills in providing midwifery care to women of reproductive age. Interventions have been implemented to ensure an enabling clinical environment for midwifery students. However, fewer mechanisms have been put in place to support the educators who are key people in teaching skills to the students. This study aimed to assess factors influencing student clinical teaching by midwifery educators in Northern Malawi. A qualitative exploratory descriptive study design was employed .Mzuzu University Research Ethics Committee (MZUNREC) approved the study (MZUNIREC/DOR/23/76). The data was collected by the researcher from 13 participants from the midwifery colleges and their training hospitals in Northern Malawi.
The study used a purposive sampling technique and participants gave consent for the study. A semi-structured interview guide was used to collect data. Participant’s responses were transcribed verbatim. The data was manually analysed using content analysis from where categories, subthemes and themes derived. Themes which emerged under facilitating factors were: clinical preparation, allocating prescribed number of students in the clinical area, and availability of clinical teaching resources.
Theme which emerged under barriers to student clinical teaching were: negotiating multiple roles, negligent supervision, and students with challenging behaviour. The following themes emerged on strategies used in solving the challenges faced by midwifery clinical educators: cost sharing and creation of more opportunities.
The study results indicate that midwifery clinical educators are experiencing a lot of challenges during clinical teaching which has the potential to reduce the acquisition of skills among students. Addressing the challenges in midwifery education can help in the attainment of required skill competences and improve the self-efficacy of the graduates being produced. Quality graduates have the potential to help the country achieve sustainable development target goal 3.1 of reducing maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030 thereby improving the life expectancy of women at reproductive age
