Since 2010, Dalarna University has been involved in the education of future midwifery teachers in Somaliland at the master’s level.
The programme was adapted for web-based instruction as a result of collaboration between Dalarna University, Amoud University, Hargeisa University and the Somaliland Nursing and Midwifery Association (SLNMA) in Somaliland.
Degrees are awarded by the local universities, and the plan is to develop further courses in collaboration with other universities in southern-central Somalia and Puntland. The courses are intended for health-care staff as a means of reducing the high rate of mortality during childbirth of mothers and newborns.
Background
SIDA has signed a three-year agreement with Dalarna University that will provide 4.2 million kronor in funding for a Master’s Programme for Midwives in Somaliland. Midwives who graduate from the programme will be qualified to teach future midwives and in such a way will reduce the extreme shortage of midwives that exists there today. Most of the programme will be taught online from Falun and has developed as part of the University’s investment in education that makes use of the vast resources that the internet affords users, namely Next Generation Learning (NGL).
“Currently, there are 220 practising midwives in Somaliland, when in actual fact closer to 2 200 are needed there. Of 100 000 pregnant women in Somaliland today, 1 100 die from pregnancy-related factors. One contributing reason for this is the acute lack of midwives,” explains Fatumo Osman, Doctoral Student and Project Coordinator at Dalarna University.
The University has received this funding after many years of developmental work with the universities in Hargeisa and Amoud. All instruction is delivered from Dalarna University using a web-based learning platform; streamed and recorded lectures; and seminars in real-time using web-conferencing. The programme is headed by Associate Professor Kerstin Erlandsson and Associate Professor Marie Klingberg-Allvin, who hopes that the courses can, with time, be offered at a number of places in Somalia, where access to higher education is limited for security reasons.
“The digital technology opens up a wealth of opportunities to work in cooperation with the rest of the world. This SIDA funding will allow us, along with our colleagues in Somaliland, to take the next step in giving women there access to safe health care during pregnancy and labour. Coproduction with Somaliland is helping us to better understand the situation for people with Somali backgrounds who live in our region. What we can learn about the state of things after the war and about refugees and migration can in the long-run contribute to an increased involvement in our society for Somalians living in Sweden,” states Marie Klingberg-Allvin.
The University’s Vice Chancellor Marita Hilliges, who has herself visited colleagues in Hargeisa, had this to say about the project:
“Dalarna University currently has a strong educational and research environment within the field of sexual and reproductive health. By combining this with our unique knowledge and skills in collaborative real-time instruction over the internet, we can enrich our environment with a global perspective at the same time as we contribute to fundamental social development in a country that faces some great challenges.”
Film: NGL Midwives in Somaliland
In February 2014, pro-Vice Chancellor Marie Klingberg Allvin, Lecturer Fatumo Osman and filmmaker Emilia Henriksson, all from Dalarna University, travelled to Hargeisa and Amoud in Somaliland to meet students and partners, and to visit hospitals and clinics.
The trip was documented in film that follows them in their meetings with many people, including the First Lady of Somaliland, Fouzia M. Ismail from SLNMA, Professor Roda Ali Ahmed and Dr. Abdi H. Gass from Hargeisa University.
Somaliland is a post-conflict country that has one of the world’s highest maternal and new-born mortality rates. One key issue is the shortage of qualified midwives. Integration of educated, licensed and regulated midwives within the health-care system has shown positive effects on maternal and child health (Renfrew et al, 2014). Midwife-led care, including family planning, could avert 83 % of all maternal deaths globally (Homer et al, 2014). In Somaliland, there is an urgent need to train midwives who can teach evidence-based midwifery in there. Increasing access to midwifery training and thus improving women’s access to midwife-led care in post-conflict settings such as Somaliland is essential if maternal and newborn mortality is to be reduced (Renfrew et al, 2014).
This SIDA-funded project addresses new teaching trends that use both modern pedagogical methods, as well as information and communications technology (ICT). Over the last 15 years, Dalarna University (DU) has been developing and implementing web-based education in its higher education and research: this is termed Next Generation Learning (NGL). The use of NGL allows 24 master students from Amoud University and Hargesia University, Somaliland, to enrol in a web-based Master’s Programme in Sexual and Reproductive Health with support from DU. They will take their examination in August 2015, having over the course of two years developed their skills and ability to teach evidence-based maternal and newborn care.
Their competencies will be useful in strengthening midwifery through investment in the training of future midwives. The increased number of midwives educated as a result of this initiative will mean a cost-effective, affordable and sustainable solution that will reduce both maternal and new-born mortality and morbidity. The main objective is to develop a model for web-based learning using ICT in order to rebuild capacity within midwifery training institutions in Somaliland.
The model may be applicable to other conflict and post-conflict settings where access to higher education is poor for security reasons. Another component is to explore, promote and safeguard the sustainability of the development of midwifery education and the midwifery profession in Somaliland. The Somaliland Nursing and Midwifery Association (SLNMA) was established in 2004 and assists in the development of high-quality care through education, regulation and association. The long-term goal is to increase the number of appropriately trained and qualified midwives who will contribute to the strengthening of the workforce and the reduction of maternal and newborn mortality in Somaliland.
Master’s Program: An Overview
This web-based master’s level program has two key purposes: the first is to enable nurses/midwives to address, in a culturally sensitive manner, the sexual reproductive health needs of individuals by improving course content and the methodology used for training future nurse/midwives in sexual and reproductive health; the second is to provide support and guidance to individuals, parents, stakeholders and other influential persons in these areas.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On completion of the one-year master’s program in sexual and reproductive health, the student shall be able to:
Knowledge and Understanding
Demonstrate deeper knowledge and understanding of sexual and reproductive health and rights
Demonstrate deeper knowledge of research methodology
recognize effective leadership and management for sexual and reproductive health care in diverse health-care settings
Skills and Abilities
Analyze and critically evaluate sexual and reproductive health problems with an understanding of the cultural and social determinants of women’s health at all ages
Review, analyze and evaluate health policies and interventions regarding sexual and reproductive health and rights
Demonstrate the ability to put theoretical perspectives and empirical evidence into practice
Demonstrate the ability to facilitate a scholarly approach to teaching and learning
Judgment and Approach
Make assessments in the area of sexual and reproductive health, taking into account relevant scientific, social and ethical aspects, and describe, reflect on and analyze an awareness of ethical aspects of research and development work
Main Content and Structure
This program comprises core courses and a master’s degree project. The core courses cover a wide range of subjects, including an introduction into research methodology, sexual and reproductive health and rights, maternal and child health, leadership and pedagogy.
Somaliland is a post-conflict country that has one of the world’s highest maternal and new-born mortality rates. One key issue is the shortage of qualified midwives. Integration of educated, licensed and regulated midwives within the health-care system has shown positive effects on maternal and child health (Renfrew et al, 2014). Midwife-led care, including family planning, could avert 83 % of all maternal deaths globally (Homer et al, 2014). In Somaliland, there is an urgent need to train midwives who can teach evidence-based midwifery in there. Increasing access to midwifery training and thus improving women’s access to midwife-led care in post-conflict settings such as Somaliland is essential if maternal and newborn mortality is to be reduced (Renfrew et al, 2014).
This SIDA-funded project addresses new teaching trends that use both modern pedagogical methods, as well as information and communications technology (ICT). Over the last 15 years, Dalarna University (DU) has been developing and implementing web-based education in its higher education and research: this is termed Next Generation Learning (NGL). The use of NGL allows 24 master students from Amoud University and Hargesia University, Somaliland, to enrol in a web-based Master’s Programme in Sexual and Reproductive Health with support from DU. They will take their examination in August 2015, having over the course of two years developed their skills and ability to teach evidence-based maternal and newborn care.
Their competencies will be useful in strengthening midwifery through investment in the training of future midwives. The increased number of midwives educated as a result of this initiative will mean a cost-effective, affordable and sustainable solution that will reduce both maternal and new-born mortality and morbidity. The main objective is to develop a model for web-based learning using ICT in order to rebuild capacity within midwifery training institutions in Somaliland.
The model may be applicable to other conflict and post-conflict settings where access to higher education is poor for security reasons. Another component is to explore, promote and safeguard the sustainability of the development of midwifery education and the midwifery profession in Somaliland. The Somaliland Nursing and Midwifery Association (SLNMA) was established in 2004 and assists in the development of high-quality care through education, regulation and association. The long-term goal is to increase the number of appropriately trained and qualified midwives who will contribute to the strengthening of the workforce and the reduction of maternal and newborn mortality in Somaliland.
