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MID525 Midwifery as Primary Health Care 2 (8)

Abstract

Based on a primary health care foundation and framework, MID525 builds on understanding gained in MID452. Where MID452 explored midwifery as primary health care for the individual woman, MID525 takes more of a community / models based approach. MID525, framed by the tenets of social justice, examines how the midwife can work towards improving maternal and infant health (closing the gap between Australian Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian health outcomes). Informed by the principles of Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) and Appreciative Inquiry (AI), students apply their learning to the community contexts in which midwifery care is delivered. Students will explore what it means for the midwife to work to their full scope of practice in the women’s health care context. Midwifery strategies to reduce the incidence and impact of violence on childbearing women. Students will gain an understanding of midwifery models of care practiced in the rural and metropolitan areas in both Australian and global contexts.

+ Subject Availability Modes and Location

Session 3
DistanceWagga Wagga Campus
Continuing students should consult the SAL for current offering details: MID525
Where differences exist between the Handbook and the SAL, the SAL should be taken as containing the correct subject offering details.

Subject information

Duration Grading System School:
One sessionHD/FLSchool of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health

Enrolment restrictions

Graduate Diploma of Midwifery. Compulsory subject for pre-registration students.
Elective subject for currently practicing registered midwives enrolled in the Graduate Diploma of Midwifery, Master of Midwifery, Bachelor of Nursing Science and Master of Nursing degrees.
Prerequisite(s)Related subject(s)
MID441 and MID452MID444 Concurrent enrolment in MID444 or MID443
MID443 Concurrent enrolment in MID443 or MID444

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:
  • be able to analyse and apply policies, directives, standards, guidelines and codes of practice from the International Confederation of Midwives, Australian College of Midwives, the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council and the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia to frame their practice and practice midwifery in accordance of these professional standards.
  • be able to critically review and critique (from a community development and social determinants of health perspective) the literature relating to 'closing the gap' in maternal and newborn health outcomes between Indigenous Australian and non-Indigenous Australian peoples.
  • be able to investigate, analyse and synthesise how the principles of Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) and Appreciative Inquiry (AI) can be used in midwifery to 'close the gap' between the maternal and newborn health outcomes of Indigenous Australian and non-Indigenous Australian peoples and the role of community controlled health services in 'closing the gap'.
  • be able to critically examine and reflect on the global health status of childbearing women and the impact midwives might have on improving maternal and newborn health outcomes particularly from public health and primary health care perspectives.
  • be able to analyse the incidence and impact of violence on childbearing women and develop and apply midwifery strategies that lead to a reduction in violence against women.
  • be able to appraise and address the impact of power relations (including the history of colonial power over Indigenous Australians) on midwifery practice and critically examine midwifery practice from a feminist perspective.
  • be able to accept a high level of accountability and responsibility for own actions within midwifery practice.
  • be able to promote safe and effective midwifery care; including advocating to protect the rights of women, families and communities in relation to maternity care and continuing to provide midwifery care when collaboration with a medical practitioner or other health care provider is required.
  • be able to design, evaluate and implement effective strategies to support collaborative midwifery practice.
  • be able to actively support midwifery as a public health strategy, including family planning and critically investigate and analyse laws and regulations related to termination of pregnancy.
  • be able to analyse and synthesise the primary health care philosophy (equity and access; services based on need, community participation and collaboration, affordable, sustainable care) and apply this philosophy to women-centred midwifery care.
  • be able to critically reflect on and analyse different models of midwifery care and evaluate their effectiveness, accessibility and availability for a rural and/or urban area.

Syllabus

The subject will cover the following topics:
  • Module 1: Closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian maternal and newborn health outcomes (from an Assets Based Community Development/Appreciative Inquiry perspective);
  • Module 2: Midwifery from a global perspective;
  • Module 3: Models of midwifery care;
  • Module 4: Women's and sexual health, including reducing the incidence and impact of violence against childbearing women.

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The information contained in the 2015 CSU Handbook was accurate at the date of publication: 01 October 2015. The University reserves the right to vary the information at any time without notice.