Gynecology & Obstetrics
Open Access
ISSN: 2161-0932
ISSN: 2161-0932
Thivhulawi Malwela
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Gynecol Obstet (Sunnyvale)
Background: The theory and practice gap is a discrepancy between what the students are being taught in the classroom (theory) and what is experienced during the clinical practice. Literature reveals that nursing education has been moved from hospital to colleges and universities, thus created the theory practice gap. Objectives: The objectives of the study were to; identify and describe that were factors affecting the integration of midwifery nursing science theory with clinical practice at training hospitals in Vhembe district of Limpopo province, South Africa. Method: The qualitative, explorative descriptive and contextual design was used. Population included level four (4)/finalist�s student nurses. Non-probability, purposive sampling was used. Data was collected through 3 focus group discussions with eighteen (18) student nurses (4 males and 14 females). Data analysis was done through open coding method. Results: A main theme as �Factors related to midwifery teaching and learning by student midwives� with the following subthemes emerged; (1) Lack of interest towards learning and or midwifery, (2) Absenteeism, (3) Ability to understand the theory as taught in class and (4) Attitude of students towards midwifery practice. Implications: The results also indicated that there was poor integration of midwifery nursing science theory with clinical practice in Vhembe District, Limpopo province, south Africa. Recommendations were made to improve the integration of midwifery nursing science theory with clinical practice.
Thivhulawi Malwela has completed her Honors in Nursing Science with University of South Africa (UNISA) in 2010. She is a Midwifery Nursing Lecturer at the Limpopo College of Nursing, Thohoyandou Campus, South Africa. She started her Magister Curationis (MCUR) in March 2012 and completed her dissertation and submitted it in fulfillment of the University of Venda requirements on the 27th March 2014 for the graduation in May 2014. Her interest is the training of midwives as well as conducting maternal and perinatal in-service training in Vhembe District.