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Low uptake of upgrading course among nursemidwives through eLearning model in Tanzania: is it entry qualifications or computer-phobia? Lujenje S1,Ngilangwa David P1, Chaya Pius1, Noronha Rita1 1 Amref Health Africa, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania 1st Amref Health Africa International Conference Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya 24-26th November, 2014 Outline • Issue • Description • Lessons learnt • Next steps and recommendations • Acknowledgments Issue • Human resource for health shortage is daunting – Nurse-midwives in particular remain low • The situation contributes significantly to high number of maternal mortality in the country – 51% of deliveries are assisted by skilled personnel • Range of initiatives have been done to increase number of training institutions and enrolled students • Yet, the country experience dearth number of HRH – Tanzania has 65% unmet needs for its required HRH • Thus, equipping available HRH to conduct multitask including deliveries remain critical Issue… • Amref Health Africa through its global campaign “Stand Up for African Mothers” is contributing towards addressing HRH shortage in Tanzania • Supporting training of nurse-midwives in nine regions with severe shortage of HRH in Tanzania • Through e-Learning • eLearning programme uses the existing national curriculum for conventional nursing training schools for upgrading nurses • Curriculum are installed in students’ computers in all participating nursing schools Description • In April 2011, Amref Health Africa in collaboration with MoHSW launched two-year project • Upgrade 2,800 nurses-midwives from certificate to diploma level through eLearning in 9 nursing schools • This is a two year in-service training • Allows nurse-midwives to remain at their workstation • Study at their own pace, with minimal disruption to their work schedules • To do practical of what they have learnt • Contrary to full-time studies Description… • The programme implementation was preceded by a rapid assessment to determine; - Tanzania’s e-Learning preparedness - Revising the existing national curriculum to suit a eLearning model - Obtaining approval of curriculum from regulatory bodies - Sensitizing nurses to join the programme • The programme has been widely publicized nationwide and most of targeted i.e. in-service nurses are aware of it • However since its inception uptake of the programme has been remained low Description… Uptake of eLearning among students in Tanzania Intake Number of applicants Number of selected/qualified April 2013 160 89 Sept 2013 222 88 April 2014 52 22 Lessons learnt • eLearning acceptance was high from nurses and employees • Majority of targeted nurses wanted to join the course • Entry qualifications of one pass in either Biology or Chemistry plus two years work experience obstructed them • Other reasons given for low uptake of the course were – lack of prior training or exposure to computers – challenges in balancing work, family and education life – Distance from workplaces to nursing schools especial during face to face meetings with their tutors Next steps and recommendations • To scale up the programme to other schools and intensify its sensitization • Regulatory body should review entry qualifications to improve access to Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for nurse-midwives Acknowledgement o All donors (GSK 20% Re-investment) o The Government of Tanzania o Nursing Schools o All eLearning programme stakeholders