Evaluation in Malta of a midwives' educational programme on postnatal depression.

Abstract

Childbirth is a major life event that bears implications not only for the couple but also for society at large. Studies reported in the literature on predisposing factors of postnatal depression, underline the importance of screening and identifying women at risk, either in the antenatal or in the early postnatal period. The literature suggests that midwifery education may not have sufficiently sensitised the midwife on postnatal depression. Knowing is seen as inseparable from deciding to do something in reference to knowledge. The midwife needs to increase her sensitivity and perception to the mother's emotional changes during the perinatal period. Hence, a continuing educational programme on postnatal depression may solve service needs through the medium of individual development. Learners' achievement is the essence of the educational enterprise. The study evaluated the midwives' knowledge by a group-administered summative-test questionnaire, before and after an educational intervention programme on postnatal depression. A pre-experimental design was used for the study. Forty-six practising midwives participated in the study. McNemar Test of Symmetry, Yates Corrected Chisquare and content analysis were used to analyse the data Results supported the hypothesis, as the programme was highly effective regarding the knowledge acquisition of the midwives. It is recommended that a revised practical part mainly dealing with the provision of non-directive counselling skills must be incorporated within the programme. Implications of the study include the need to hold theory and practice in close productive tension and that the educator needs to have an ongoing commitment in the clinical practice.