Midwives’ Professional Competency for Preventing Neonatal Mortality in Disasters

Background: Infants are the most vulnerable people with special needs in natural disasters. Since midwives are responsible for providing reproductive health services to infants in disastrous situations, assessing their professional competence is of great importance. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Tehran, Iran. A total of ۳۶۱ midwives were selected by cluster sampling method. After giving their informed consents, they participated in the study and completed the researcher-made questionnaire about providing health services to infants in natural disasters. Midwives’ professional competence was investigated through self-assessment in terms of their perceived importance, knowledge, and skill. Then, the data were analyzed using SPSS. Results: Mean(SD) total score of professional competency of midwives in providing services to infants in disasters was ۹۱.۹۵(۲۰.۲) obtained from ۳ subcategories: perceived importance, ۳۹.۸۳(۹.۵۵); knowledge, ۲۲.۵(۵.۰۶); and skill ۳۰.۱۶(۶.۸۶). There were significant relationships between the scores of professional competency of midwives with age (P=۰.۰۵۳), degree of education (P=۰.۰۲۸), the workplace (P=۰.۰۵۳), and experience in disaster (P=۰.۰۴۷). About ۴۹.۸۶% of midwives demonstrated middle level of professional competency. The lowest knowledge and skill score were reported in managing common neonatal problems such as asphyxia, sepsis, physical trauma, which requires referral and stability. Conclusion: The average scores of professional competency of midwives to deliver reproductive health service to infants in disasters shows the necessity of related and integrated education. It is recommended that by holding training exercises and simulations, midwives be educated with regard to disasters and how to respond in these situations.

Keywords:

Reproductive health services , Disasters , Neonatal mortality , Midwife , Professional competency