BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) DEGREE IN MIDWIFERY
REGULATIONS
These regulations should be read in conjunction with the General Academic Regulations of National University of Science and Technology (NUST) for undergraduate degrees at NUST.
The Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Midwifery ((MWB- Hon) is offered by the Department of Nursing and Midwifery Sciences, Faculty of Medicine at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) and leads to a midwifery practitioner.
The program is specifically designed to develop a graduate midwifery practitioner capable of applying the recommended essential competencies for midwifery practice. The graduate midwife should develop critical analytic skills necessary for making informed decisions in the provision of evidence based practice. He/she is capable of providing woman-centred care and respectful care in both hospital and community settings; and promote culturally sensitive care as well as apply reflective thinking.
The aim of the Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Midwifery is to upgrade midwifery diploma holders. The course recognises prior learning experiences as a registered nurse and midwife and provides a framework with which one can enhance his/her professional practice. The degree programme has been developed to build upon and enhance midwifery practice; it also supports career pathways for the midwife in clinical practice, education, research as well as leadership and management.
Programme OutcomesThe graduate should demonstrate the following competencies:
- Professional competence and use of evidence in practice through critical and analytical thinking as well as informed decision making
- Apply the requisite knowledge and skills from obstetrics, neonatology, the social sciences, public health and ethics in the provision of culturally and relevant, appropriate care for women, newborns, and childbearing families.
- Provide high quality, culturally sensitive health education and services to all in the community in order to promote healthy family life, planned pregnancies and positive parenting.
- Provide high quality care including detection and management of complications during pregnancy, labour, childbirth and the peurpeium.
- Provide comprehensive care for the newborn up to six weeks post delivery
- Facilitate abortion-related care.
- Ability to work in multi-disciplinary teams and to practice in all the levels of health practice to meet the needs of different populations including the vulnerable groups
- Demonstrate leadership ability, client advocacy and health service marketing skills.
DURATION OF THE PROGRAMME
The duration shall be 3 years on a four-week block release instruction sessions in each semester adding up to a total of six (6) semesters. The programme recognises prior knowledge and experience in that the prospective candidates are already employed in the midwifery settings and they have obtained a basic qualification in midwifery but would like to enhance their knowledge and skills through acquiring a formal undergraduate degree qualification in midwifery.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
To be eligible for admission the candidate must:
- Have at least 5 ‘O’ level passes including English, Mathematics and Science subject (Biology and Chemistry or Physics).
- An ‘A’ level qualification will be an added advantage.
- Have a midwifery qualification (Registered General Nurse with a diploma in midwifery or a Registered Midwife with a diploma certificate).
- Be registered with the Nurses Council of Zimbabwe and have a current Practising Certificate.
- Have at least 2 years work experience post midwifery qualification.
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REGULATIONS
These regulations should be read in conjunction with the General Academic Regulations of National University of Science and Technology (NUST) for undergraduate degrees at NUST.
The Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Midwifery ((MWB- Hon) is offered by the Department of Nursing and Midwifery Sciences, Faculty of Medicine at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) and leads to a midwifery practitioner.
The program is specifically designed to develop a graduate midwifery practitioner capable of applying the recommended essential competencies for midwifery practice. The graduate midwife should develop critical analytic skills necessary for making informed decisions in the provision of evidence-based practice. He/she is capable of providing woman-centred care and respectful care in both hospital and community settings, and promote culturally sensitive care as well as apply reflective thinking.
The aim of the Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Midwifery is to upgrade midwifery diploma holders. The course recognises prior learning experiences as a registered nurse and midwife and provides a framework with which one can enhance his/her professional practice. The degree programme has been developed to build upon and enhance midwifery practice; it also supports career pathways for the midwife in clinical practice, education, research as well as leadership and management.
Programme Outcomes
The graduate should demonstrate the following competencies:
- Professional competence and use of evidence in practice through critical and analytical thinking as well as informed decision making
- Apply the requisite knowledge and skills from obstetrics, neonatology, the social sciences, public health and ethics in the provision of culturally and relevant, appropriate care for women, newborns, and childbearing families.
- Provide high quality, culturally sensitive health education and services to all in the community in order to promote healthy family life, planned pregnancies and positive parenting.
- Provide high quality care including detection and management of complications during pregnancy, labour, childbirth and the puerperium.
- Provide comprehensive care for the newborn up to six weeks post delivery
- Facilitate abortion-related care.
- Ability to work in multi-disciplinary teams and to practice in all the levels of health practice to meet the needs of different populations including the vulnerable groups
- Demonstrate leadership ability, client advocacy and health service marketing skills.
DURATION OF THE PROGRAMME
The duration shall be 3 years on a four-week block release instruction sessions in each semester adding up to a total of six (6) semesters. The programme recognises prior knowledge and experience in that the prospective candidates are already employed in the midwifery settings and they have obtained a basic qualification in midwifery but would like to enhance their knowledge and skills through acquiring a formal undergraduate degree qualification in midwifery.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
To be eligible for admission the candidate must:
- Have at least 5 ‘O’ level passes including English, Mathematics and a Science subject (Biology and Chemistry or Physics).
- An ‘A’ level qualification will be an added advantage.
- Have a midwifery qualification (Registered General Nurse with a diploma in midwifery or a Registered Midwife with a diploma certificate).
- Be registered with the Nurses Council of Zimbabwe and have a current Practising Certificate.
- Have at least 2 years work experience post midwifery qualification.
ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION
Assessment and evaluation shall be based on continuous assessment (CA), written formal examinations and a final year research project.
Continuous Assessment (30%)
The student's learning outcomes are assessed after each teaching unit. Continuous assessment (CA) will contribute not less than 30% of the overall mark and shall consist of various exercises such as assignments, case studies, unit tests, clinical practicum and seminars. To be eligible for examinations, a student shall be required to have a minimum continuous assessment score of 45%.
Final Examinations (70%)
The final examinations shall comprise one written paper and practical assessments. The minimum final examination pass score shall be at least 50%. The written examinations will contribute 60% while the practicum will be 10%
Research Project (100%)
The assessment score for the final year research project shall be 100%.
EXAMINATIONS
- The General Academic Regulations for undergraduate degrees shall apply.
- Formal examinations will be conducted at the end of each semester for all courses.
- The student should attend a minimum of 80% sessions to be eligible for examinations
- Where a course has a theoretical and a practical component, the student must pass both independently.
- Each course shall be marked out of one hundred percent (100%).
FAILURE TO SATISFY THE EXAMINERS
- A candidate who fails to satisfy the Examiners in terms of these General Academic and Faculty Regulations may be required by the Senate to:
- write Supplementary Examinations
- repeat
- discontinue
- withdraw
- All supplemented courses shall be awarded a maximum pass grade of 50%.
MARKING SCHEME
The following marking scheme shall be adopted:
75% and above - 1 (First Division).
70% - 74% - 2.1 (Upper Second Division).
60% - 69% - 2.2 (Lower Second Division).
50% -59% - Pass
Below 50% - Fail
AWARD OF DEGREE
To be awarded the degree, the student must pass all the courses constituting the programme including the final year project.
OVERALL CURRICULUM DESIGN
OVERALL CURRICULUM DESIGN
The curriculum is designed to cover:
- Structure which is logically sequenced to ensure an appropriate mix of theory through classroom teaching and learning as well as supervised practice in hospitals and community settings.
- Process that adopts a student- centred approach and juxtaposes theory and practice to facilitate students’ ability to integrate theory and practice.
- Outcome whose product is a graduate midwife who has the ability to apply the essential competencies for midwifery practice namely:
- Acquisition of requisite knowledge and skills in obstetrics, neonatology, social sciences, public health and ethics.
- Provision of high quality and culturally sensitive care for women and newborns.
- Provision of additional roles as defined by the Nurses Council of Zimbabwe.
- Assuming administration and management tasks and activities including human resources
- Engaging in research to support evidence-based practice.
- Advocating for women’s sexual and reproductive rights and health issues.
STRUCTURE AND DESIGN OF THE PROGRAMME
The degree programme is divided into semesters and organised into a four weeks’ study block in each semester. One study year consists of two semesters. One semester covers a minimum period of 240 hours of theoretical input as well as clinical learning in the skills laboratory and resident teaching hospitals.
Students undertake midwifery professional experience in health service facilities. Clinical placements will occur in each semester, and are in addition to time spent in the midwifery clinical skills laboratories that simulate the clinical environment. Over the duration of the course, students are expected to acquire the requisite competencies and are also required to record the recommended numbers of specified supervised procedures/competencies in the practical log books.
COURSE SYNOPSES
YEAR 1- PART 1: SEMESTER 1
PLC 1101: Peace, Leadership and Conflict transformation I
Concepts of Peace and Conflict; theories of conflict; causes and costs of conflict; organizational conflicts; science, technology and conflict interface; gender dimension to conflict; conflict analysis and tools; impact of conflict on development.
MWB 1201: Anatomy of the Female and Male Reproductive Systems
Review of the human reproductive anatomy- female and male reproductive organs, the female pelvis, foetal skull, endocrine glands; structure and function of the male and female reproductive organs.
MWB 1102: Physiology of the Reproductive Systems
Human body physiology; cell theory and physiological functions; basic physiological concepts related to reproduction (follicular development, ovulation, menstrual cycle, fertilisation, hormonal regulation, lactation); the physiological control mechanisms, physiology of pregnancy, labour, puerperium and lactation; physiology of pain in labour; newborn physiological adaptation to extra-uterine life; thermal regulation in the newborn; respiratory physiology.
MWB 1103: Embryology
The human cell and genetic material; chromosomes; changes in chromosomes; genes and DNA; spermatogenesis; mitosis and meiosis; sexual development and activity; fertilisation and implantation; placental development; embryonic development in relation to the stages of pregnancy; foetal development, causes of foetal abnormalities; care in the preconception period; role of the midwife
MWB 1104: Applied Biochemistry
Basic concepts in biochemistry; water transport processes; the enzymes nutrients; metabolism of carbohydrates; deoxyribonucleic acids and protein synthesis; metabolism of proteins and amino acids; metabolism of lipids, drug metabolism and toxicology, clinical biochemistry, application of biochemistry to pregnancy, labour and childbirth, in the puerperium, and the postpartum stages.
MWB 1105: Applied Biophysics
Measurement; motion, machines work and power; liquid properties; gas properties; the circulatory system; biological processes; temperature and heat energy; heat transfer; electric circuits; elasticity and wave motion, mechanism of hearing; sight, nuclear radiation.
MWB 1106: Microbiology and Parasitology
Basic microbial concepts; public health microbiology; immunology and immunity; bacterial infections; virology; parasitology; mycology; infection control and prevention measures; microscopy; role of the midwife.
PART 1: SEMESTER 2
PLC 1201: Peace, Leadership and Conflict transformation II
Leadership; leadership and conflict transformation skills; classification of leaders; leadership and professional ethics; nexus between leadership and conflict; interplay amongst leadership; conflict and development.
MWB 1201: Psychology in Reproductive Health
Overview of psychology and related sciences; psychological theories; behaviour; motivation; learning; cognition and perception; memory; personality; the psychological contexts influencing behaviour; the concepts of mental wellbeing and disorder; theories of counselling; psychological measurements; psychological issues in reproductive health; multi-professional-psychological interventions in reproductive health.
MWB 1202: Sociology for Reproductive Health
Overview of sociology and related sciences; sociological theories; socialisation; social stratification and mobility; society, families and their role in reproductive health; socio-cultural issues in reproductive health; populations; group dynamics; gender and sexuality; social exclusion and poverty; domestic and sexual violence; sociological effects of health and illness; social support systems in reproductive health; reproductive health issues in deviant behaviour; immigration and displaced persons; role of the midwife.
MWB 1203: Philosophical Basis of Midwifery
Overview of philosophy; philosophy of nursing and midwifery; values and goals of midwifery care; nature of midwifery knowledge; concepts of health and care; ethical theories ethics and moral dilemmas; legal and professional perspectives within midwifery; respectful maternity care; professional judgement and accountability,
MWB 1204: Professional Issues in Midwifery
History of midwifery; the global context of midwifery care; global and national maternal, newborn and neonatal morbidity and mortality issues; the business of midwifery; global issues relating to strengthening midwifery practice; education and regulation; midwifery associations; regulation and licensure; perspectives and challenges for professional midwifery practice, reflective practice; clinical audits.
MWB 1205: Theories in Midwifery Practice and Models of Midwifery Care
Midwifery as an art and a science; paradigm and worldview; concept of a theory, model; nursing/midwifery central concepts (midwifery, health, man, environment); nursing/midwifery theories, categories of theories, theories relevant to midwifery practice, theories and midwifery practice, models of midwifery care.
MWB: 1206: Research I
Introduction to scientific method; research and related concepts; nature of inquiry in midwifery; research versus other bases of knowledge and practice; critical thinking; ways of knowing; knowledge types; conceptual models and theoretical models; research paradigms; information retrieval; ethical issues in research.
YEAR 2:
PART II: SEMESTER 1
MWB 2101: Normal and Abnormal Pregnancy
Pre-pregnancy care and normal pregnancy care; family planning, assessment of foetal well being; antenatal health education; obstetric complications in pregnancy, medical conditions in pregnancy; birth preparedness and the referral system.
MWB 2102: Normal and Abnormal Labour
Management of 1st, 2nd and 3rd stages of labour; the partograph; nutrition; mechanism of labour; induction and acceleration of labour; maternal positions; pain management; medical and surgical complications; obstetric emergencies; active management of the 3rd stage of labour; instrumental and operative deliveries, intrapartum complications-prolonged/obstructed labour, shoulder dystocia, haemorrhage, inversion of the uterus, retained placenta.
MWB 2103: Normal and Abnormal Postpartum
Management of maternal health during the postpartum period; family planning; health education and health promotion; adaptation to motherhood; infant feeding and counselling; post partum haemorrhage; post partum mental health disorders; puerperal infections; medical conditions; discharge plan.
MWB 2104: Normal Newborn and Neonate
Newborn care; apgar score; helping babies breathe concept; parent-infant bonding; infant feeding; assessment of the newborn, immunization, health education and counselling on parenthood, discharge and follow up plan.
MWB 2105: Abnormal Newborn and Neonate
Management of birth asphyxia, prematurity, post-maturity, small for gestational age; hypothermia; hypoglycaemia; neonatal infections; hyperbilirubinaemia; congenital abnormalities; HIV exposed infant; parent counselling on infant illness or condition.
MWB 2106: Health Assessment
Concept of health assessment, knowledge and skills generic to performing health assessment on healthy non-pregnant and pregnant women, newborns postnatal women and children, common laboratory tests for women in their reproductive years; nursing/midwifery diagnosis and reasoning; health education; screening for cervical and breast cancer; documentation and record keeping.
PART II: SEMESTER 2
MWB 2201: Abortion Care Needs for Women
Policies, protocols, laws and regulations relating to abortion-care and services; religion and abortion; medical eligibility for abortion; post abortion care; family planning; physical and psychological abortion care services.
MWB 2202: Pharmacology for Midwives
Advanced principles of pharmacology; review of basic pharmacology principles; indications; doses; routes of administration, and side effects of common drugs used for common complications of childbearing; toxicology and teratogenic drugs; non-prescription and recreational drugs; legal and policy regulation on drug prescribing in pregnancy, labour, childbirth and the peurperium; life-saving drugs.
MWB 2203: Biostatistics and Epidemiology
Biostatistics for health; usefulness of biostatistics; classification of data; presentation of data; measures of central tendency; measures of variability/dispersion; the normal distribution, measures of position, symmetry and skewness; sampling, theory of probability, statistical inferences; chi-square contingency methods; hypothesis testing; regression analysis and correlation; ANOVA. Basic concepts in epidemiology; epidemiology in midwifery; uses of epidemiology; basic measurements and methods of study used in epidemiology; disease/events surveillance.
MWB 2204: Sexual and Reproductive Health Issues
Reproductive health; preconception care; family planning; adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights; gender issues; sexual abuse; rape; sexually transmitted infections (STI); human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV and AIDS; infertility, menopause; cancer of the female reproductive system.
MWB 2205: Research II
Research process; identifying a research problem; choosing a research topic; formulating a research problem, objectives, questions and hypothesis; literature review; research methodology; data management and analysis; documentation and dissemination; guidelines for writing a research proposal; guidelines for research project presentation; referencing; formatting project.
YEAR 3
PART III: SEMESTER 1
MWB 3101: Community Midwifery
Vital statistics (maternal , neonatal, infant and child morbidity and mortality); concept of community midwifery, public health and epidemiology; right-based approach; advocacy for safe motherhood and women’s empowerment; the three delays; health promotion; maternal audits; primary health care framework/model of care; midwifery care in community settings; vulnerable populations, individual, family and community support systems including agencies that provide maternal-child; health and illness services; cultural traditions surrounding pregnancy and child birth; role of the midwife in community midwifery.
MWB 3102: Mental Health Issues in Midwifery Practice
Global and national perspectives on mental health; the primary health care model, mental health issues in pregnancy; labour and post delivery; common mental health conditions; support in stressful situations (unplanned pregnancy, sexual abuse, rape, para-suicide, marriage discord, general illness); adjustments post delivery.
MWB 3103: Child Health and Immunisation
Epidemiology of neonatal and child mortality; essential newborn and child care; growth monitoring; child nutrition and immunisations; common childhood illnesses and treatment protocols; the HIV exposed child, congenital illnesses; family support systems; the rights of the child; child adoption and fostering.
MWB 3104: Approaches to Midwifery Education
Global, regional and national perspectives on midwifery education; history of midwifery education; midwifery education developments in higher and tertiary education; principles of teaching/ learning, principles of adult education; clinical teaching and learning; teaching strategies; educational technology; basic curriculum concepts; assessment and evaluation of teaching and learning.
MWB 3105: Leadership and Management in Midwifery
The concept of leadership and management; leadership theories and styles; management principles; communication; conflict and conflict resolution; managing change; power, authority and politics; delegation and supervision; motivational issues in leadership; leadership roles in practice; policy and staff development; resource management; effective working environment; quality issues in midwifery practice; teams in health care, the role of the midwifery practitioner.
PART III: SEMESTER TWO
MWB 3201: Financing and marketing Health Services
Health financing concept, sources of health financing; key functions in health financing revenue collection; pooling of resources; purchasing of health services; model of health financing; marketing health services; health care as a business; social marketing; marketing strategies; role of the midwife in health financing and marketing.
MWB 3202: Health Policy Planning
Globalisation and health services; foundations of health policy; process and power; economic analysis of health policy; cost effective analysis in health; measuring health systems performance; communication and the change process; advocacy in midwifery practice.
MWB 3203: Research Project
The final year research project is a comprehensive, individual project on a topic concerning a clearly defined clinical problem in midwifery practice. The topic is chosen by the student and approved by the educational institution. The student combines knowledge from clinical education with a broad spectrum of the knowledge covered by the degree programme and found in the profession. The project helps the student develop the skills needed for continuing professional education and for the provision of evidence-based practice.