92379 Midwifery as a Public Health Strategy
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Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level:
Postgraduate
Result type: Grade and marksThere are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Description
This subject contributes to students' understanding of midwifery as a public health strategy situated in a woman-centred and primary healthcare framework. Students explore midwifery within a broad social context influenced by particular social, cultural, political and economic environments. Students are supported to appreciate the impact that social disadvantage and other vulnerabilities have on women and their families. The subject encourages critical examination of systems and practices designed to support and promote optimal health outcomes within the context of maternal and newborn health.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| A. | Appraise midwifery as a public health strategy and identify aspects of practice that relate to public health |
|---|---|
| B. | Evaluate the impact that social disadvantage and other vulnerabilities have on women’s ability to access safe and appropriate maternity care |
| C. | In a simulated environment, demonstrate skills in specific aspects of midwifery as public health practice including smoking cessation, limiting weight gain, promotion of breastfeeding and health promotion |
| D. | Assess how the Australian health care system facilitates a framework of primary health care in relation to the provision of and access to midwifery care |
| E. | Reflect on privilege and how this impacts on women’s ability to access universal health care |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the following graduate attributes:
- Practise woman-centred care (1.0)
- Are professionally competent midwives who provide safe and effective midwifery care using intelligent kindness (2.0)
- Work collaboratively in order to provide excellence in maternity care (3.0)
- Are resilient, emotionally competent midwives who foster human flourishing (4.0)
- Are socially responsible citizens who value the diversity of people (5.0)
- Are professionally engaged critical thinkers who take a lively and questioning approach and embrace lifelong learning (6.0)
- Graduates have professional cultural competency which contributes to the health and wellbeing of Indigenous Australians, inclusive of physical, social, emotional and spiritual wellness (7.0)
Teaching and learning strategies
In this subject, students participate in a range of teaching and learning strategies that are designed to encourage them to develop the necessary knowledge and skills to practise midwifery in a primary health care framework as part of a public health strategy.
ONLINE LEARNING ACTIVITIES
Students access online learning resources including pre-class activities, podcasts, videos, professional and grey literature prior to attending face-to-face sessions. Attendance patterns for this subject require students to rely on online modes to deliver content and support learning. Online activities are then reviewed and discussed in class to share learning, experiences and reflections.
STORIES AND SCENARIOS
Stories and scenarios are used to help students explore health and wellbeing-related scenarios. Cases depict women and their families in a primary health care setting. Students use these scenarios to learn concepts, interpret information, form judgments and develop creative solutions. Students develop critical thinking through analysis, interpretation of and reflection on issues or situations.
SIMULATED IN-CLASS ROLE PLAYS
Role plays are provided a simulated environment for students to practise new skills learnt through theory and knowledge development. Scenarios from relevant situations are used to depict real life experiences in midwifery. Students interact, observe and provide feedback within the facilitated debriefing, and reflect on their own skills, values and experiences. Students are supported to practise difficult conversations such as screening for domestic violence and smoking cessation through role modelling of exemplary practice.
COLLABORATIVE LEARNING ACTIVITIES
The majority of the face-to-face time in this subject involves collaborative group activities and workshops. Staff support students to engage in content prior to attending class, and class time focuses on group learning and mentored activities to support learning. Small group activities develop students’ understanding of public health campaigns. Students then develop public health campaigns suitable for a maternal child health audience.
PERSONAL, PROFESSIONAL AND EXPERT NARRATIVES
Guest speakers provide students with personal and professional stories in relation to the subject content. Hearing stories from both a professional and personal perspective supports students to relate learning to real world situations.
Content (topics)
Overview of public health as a health and wellness strategy
- The social determinants of health
- Primary health care and universal health coverage
- Health promotion and disease prevention
- Development of a public health campaign to promote midwifery as primary health care
Primary health care system in Australia
- Maternity service provision in Australia including models of continuity of midwifery care
- The primary health care system (primary maternity services, primary care services, GP services)
- Collaborative practice including consultation and referral
Specific areas for public health emphasis in maternity services
- Motivational interviewing theory and techniques
- Obesity in pregnancy – a public health approach
- Domestic violence screening and support workshop
- Public health priorities in midwifery - non-communicable diseases; alcohol, tobacco and other drug use (AOD); domestic violence; and vulnerable populations
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Creative piece
| Intent: | Midwifery is considered an art and we acknowledge that students learn and express themselves in a variety of ways. This assessment piece is designed to allow for creative ideas that represent midwifery as a public health strategy by reflecting the attirbutes of woman-centered care, professional competence and diversity. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, C and D This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 and 6.0 |
| Type: | Design/drawing/plan/sketch |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 50% |
| Length: | Part A: variable |
Assessment task 2: Motivational Interview recording/video
| Intent: | Midwives form relationships with women at a time of great change in their lives. These relationships provide midwives with the unique opportunity to make a lifelong impact on their's and their families' health and wellbeing. This assessment piece is designed to give you the opportunity to practice motivational interviewing in a simulated manner. This enables you to develop your midwifery skills for clinical practice. |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, B, C and E This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0 and 7.0 |
| Type: | Laboratory/practical |
| Groupwork: | Group, group and individually assessed |
| Weight: | 50% |
| Length: | Vod/podcast: Minimum of 5 minutes and a maximum of 10 minutes. |
References
Eddy, A. (2019) 'Midwifery as Primary Health Care'. In Pairman, S., Tracy, S., Dahlen, H. & Dixon, L. (eds), Midwifery preparation for practice, (4th edn). Elsevier.
Homer, C., Brodie, P. Sandall, J. & Leap, N. (2019) Midwifery continuity of care: a practical guide. 2nd edn. Churchill Livingstone.
Bowden, J. & Manning, V. (Eds) (2017). Health Promotion in Midwifery (3rd edn). CR Press.
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