Impact of an Education Training program upon Nurse-Midwives Practices Concerning First Stage of Labor.

Abstract

Background: Delivery by a skilled birth attendant (nurse - midwives) as an indicator of progress towards reducing maternal mortality worldwide (the fifth Millennium Development Goal). 

Objective: The aim of this study is to identify the impact of training education program applied on nurse-midwife practice concerning care during first stage of labor in labor room.

Methodology: A quasi-experimental design conducted on non-probability (purposive) sample of fifty two nurse- midwives selected during period of 3^th August to 10^th November 2011. The study is conducted at the four hospital of Ministry of Health (Baghdad health directorate in Al-Karhk and Al-Risafa) sector. The questionnaire form is consisted of three parts which included demographic data, knowledge concerning practice during First stage of labor, practice checklist. Content validity and reliability of the questionnaire determined through a pilot study, descriptive and inferential statistics are used to analyze the data.

Results: Results of the study showed that the highest percentage (44.2%) were in age group of 30-39 years, midwifery school graduate and(42.3%) of them had 1-10 years of work experience in midwifery. There were low and moderate means in most items related to the practices of nurse-midwives regarding first stage of labor in pre-test and assessed as (partial) while there were high mean scores in all items, and assessed Pass in posttest after the implementation of the training education program with high statistical significant.

Conclusion: The study found there were low and moderate means in most items related to the practices of nurse-midwives regarding the care during first stage of labor in pre-test and while there were high mean scores in all items, and assessed Pass in posttest after the implementation of the training education program with high statistical significant.

Recommendation: establishment of clinical practice standards according to the WHO, development of continuing education programs, establishes a baccalaureate degree program in midwifery.