Browsing by Author "Sharon, Brownie"

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    Developing a work/study programme for midwifery education in East Africa
    (Midwifery, 2018-04-24) Edwards, Grace; Kyakuwaire, Hellen; Sharon, Brownie
    there is extensive evidence to show that skilled midwifery care is crucial in reducing maternal deaths; however, in East Africa, the midwifery profession has been subsumed within the nursing role. This paper highlights issues in the preparation of skilled midwives in three East African countries, specifically, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania and provides a case study description of a flexible work/study programme designed to develop skilled midwives to meet internationally regarded ICM competency standards in midwifery education and practice. a flexible, competency-based Bachelor's of Science in Midwifery programme (BScM) has been developed based on fifteen years' experience of running a Bachelor of Science in nursing programme. The new BSCM programme allows licensed diploma midwives the opportunity to study for two days a week towards a bachelor's degree in midwifery, whilst continuing to work and support their families. The model also provides education at degree level thus providing a sound platform for ongoing development of a cadre of midwifery leaders. the BScM education model for working midwives builds on the success of the BScN work/study model in developing strong leadership, clinical and critical thinking competencies. The newly developed midwifery programme provides a pathway by which to increase the availability of skilled East African midwives educated to the Global Standards for Midwifery Education
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    Improving Response Rates to an Alumni Survey in East Africa
    (Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 2017-10-25) Mwizerwa, Joseph; Robb, Walter; Namukwaya, Carolyne; Namuguzi, Mary; Sharon, Brownie
    Feedback from students and graduates is essential to inform ongoing quality improvement in higher education. However, African universities often face implementation issues in alumni surveys, including technological barriers and difficulties in tracking graduates, particularly those from earlier cohorts and rural alumni. Innovative strategies are needed to locate alumni and obtain a good response rate across widely dispersed, rural and remote areas. This paper reports on strategies used to increase response rates in an East African online alumni survey in a context of limited computer/Internet access. The survey aimed to assess the impact of nursing graduates over a 15 year period (2001–2016). Strategies focused on locating and communicating with graduates and providing solutions to barriers associated with computer/Internet access. Better engagement with alumni was achieved using mobile technologies and social media networks. Facilitating access to online surveys by taking technology to alumni or providing hubs for online access encouraged survey participation. The strategies discussed in this study are particularly relevant for clustered or networked alumni populations (e.g. nurses) in low income and limited resource settings.