Training in Ultrasound to Determine Gestational Age (TUDA): Evaluation of a Novel Education Package to Teach Ultrasound-Naive Midwives Basic Obstetric Ultrasound in Malawi

Although ultrasound to determine gestational age is fundamental to the optimum management of pregnancy and is recommended for all women by the World Health Organisation, it remains unavailable to many women in low-income countries where trained practitioners are scarce. This study aimed to evaluate...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Frontiers in Global Women's Health 2022-04, Vol.3, p.880615-880615
Main Authors: Viner, Alexandra C, Membe-Gadama, Gladys, Whyte, Sonia, Kayambo, Doris, Masamba, Martha, Makwakwa, Enita, Lissauer, David, Stock, Sarah J, Norman, Jane E, Reynolds, Rebecca M, Magowan, Brian, Freyne, Bridget, Gadama, Luis
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
gestational age
Global Women's Health
Malawi
midwives
training
ultrasound
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Summary:Although ultrasound to determine gestational age is fundamental to the optimum management of pregnancy and is recommended for all women by the World Health Organisation, it remains unavailable to many women in low-income countries where trained practitioners are scarce. This study aimed to evaluate a novel, context-specific education package to teach midwives basic obstetric ultrasound, including the determination of gestational age by measurement of fetal femur length. The study was conducted across six sites in Malawi in January 2021. Following a virtual "training of the trainers", local teams delivered a 10-day programme encompassing both didactic and "hands on" components. Matched pre and post course tests assessed participants' knowledge of key concepts, with Objective Structured Clinical Examinations used to evaluate practical skills. To achieve a pass, trainees were required to establish the gestational age to within ±7 days of an experienced practitioner and achieve an overall score of >65% on five consecutive occasions. A matched pre and post course survey explored participants' attitudes and confidence in performing ultrasound examinations. Of the 29 midwives who participated, 28 finished the programme and met the criteria specified to pass. 22 midwives completed the matched knowledge tests, with the mean (SD) score increasing from 10.2 (3.3) to 18 (2.5) after training (
ISSN:2673-5059
2673-5059
DOI:10.3389/fgwh.2022.880615