Perceived Informatics Competencies among Midwives: A Cross-Sectional Study in the Sunyani Municipality of Ghana.

Danso Kweku Owusu; Daniel  Ekpah Audu; Robert  Saforo Mensah

doi:10.51168/sjhrafrica.v3i3.91

Authors

Danso Kweku Owusu Department of Midwifery, African Centre of Excellence for Public Health and Toxicological Research-University of Port Harcourt, River State, Nigeria
Daniel Ekpah Audu University of Port Harcourt, Africa Centre of Excellence for Research and Toxicological Research, River State, Nigeria
Robert Saforo Mensah Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Kumasi, Ghana

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v3i3.91

Keywords:

Informatics, Competencies, Midwives, Technology

Abstract

Background:

In most recent times, data innovation is a vital component of the medical care sector and allows healthcare authorities to possess primary technological expertise to control and use technology to provide care, as well as computer skills. Midwives are expected to provide quality and efficient care to their clients in this rapid advancement in ICT across the globe hence the need to build the knowledge and skills in the application of ICT. The survey sort to determine the informatics competencies among midwives in some randomly selected health care facilities in the Sunyani Municipality of Ghana.

Methods:

A quantitative-based cross-sectional study design was used for this inquiry. Using the quota sampling method, 300 respondents were recruited from six (6) randomly selected health facilities using the electronic data management system in their operations.

Results:

It was also found out that the majority of the respondents have basic knowledge of computers and their application across the professional ranks totals mean and standard deviation of 4.2, 0.36. There was no significant relationship between informatics competencies across professional ranks and working experience in years of the midwives.

Conclusion:

It can be concluded that most of the midwives interviewed were in their youthful ages and started practicing with diplomas. We found out that the majority of the midwives have basic knowledge in computers and could apply this knowledge in the performance of basic tasks and also have a fair knowledge and skills in informatics as well. There was no relationship between knowledge and educational level and professional rank.

Recommendation:

It was, therefore, suggested that the curriculum for midwifery informatics be reviewed to include other advanced programs and periodic organization of training programs or workshops for practicing midwives.

Author Biography

Danso Kweku Owusu, Department of Midwifery, African Centre of Excellence for Public Health and Toxicological Research-University of Port Harcourt, River State, Nigeria

The author of this work, DANSO, Kweku Owusu is a Master of Science in Midwifery and Child Health Nursing student at the Africa Centre of Excellence for Public Health and Toxicological Research (ACE-PUTOR). He holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Education (Catholic University College, Fiapre, Ghana), Bachelor of Science (General Nursing) from the University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana, and a Diploma in General Nursing from Nursing and Midwifery Training College, Koforidua, Ghana. He is a member of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association and Nurse Educators Group, Ghana. He is a resident of Sunyani in the Bono region of Ghana and works as a nurse educator at Nursing Training College, Kwapong in the Ahafo region. He has vast knowledge and experience in the practice and teaching of nursing and midwifery with over 15 years of working experience. He wishes to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy in Child Health Nursing. He is committed to engaging in formal and informal lifelong learning experiences across the nursing professional career in order to; deepen and broaden his knowledge and skill competencies, improve the delivery of safe, cost-effective, and quality-based patient care, improve patient outcomes through the use of information and communication technology (ICT).