SAQA

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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION:

Postgraduate Diploma in Midwifery

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
119081	Postgraduate Diploma in Midwifery
ORIGINATOR
University of the Western Cape
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-			HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Postgraduate Diploma	Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services		Curative Health
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	120	Not Applicable	NQF Level 08	Regular-Provider-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered		EXCO 0333/25	2025-07-10	2028-07-10
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2029-07-10		2032-07-10

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification.

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

Purpose:
The purpose of this qualification is to produce high-quality professionals, who can function with advanced intellectual and practical competencies, in complex specialized areas, as specialist practitioners in providing evidence-based maternal and neonatal care together with other team members. In addition, qualifying learners will contribute to the continuous development of midwifery and neonatal nursing, as well as the associated healthcare services through the development of scientific and professional knowledge for the advancement of midwifery and neonatal nursing practice, as well as its research, management, and education. Qualifying learners will work as clinical nurse specialists in neonatal nursing, or as advanced midwives in the health sector. They are independent practitioners in their own right in the speciality.

The qualification aims to:

Produce high-quality advanced midwives and neonatal nurse specialists who can be competent specialist nursing practitioners in a range of health service settings.

Provide advanced midwives and neonatal nurse specialists with a range of skills, knowledge, values, and attitudes that will enable them to set trends and fulfil leadership roles in a meaningful and sustained contribution to health services.

Equip advanced midwives and neonatal nurse specialists with a developed sense of equity, justice and service ethics that will ensure that they work in an accountable manner irrespective of their chosen workplace.

Offer a wide range of transferable skills for application in other professions, disciplines, and general life.

Qualifying learners will be able to:

Apply specialist knowledge and principles when communicating, making theoretical arguments, or developing documentation.

Engage in policy development at local, regional, national, and international levels to position Midwifery in the health care system at all levels.

Assess and implement health and other policies,

Affect areas of policy change, development, and implementation,

Plan and implement and manage projects of a varied nature,

Work independently and as part of a team.

Rationale:
It is important to frame the need for this qualification, with a view of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), now called the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for South Africa. The Statistics South Africa (STATS SA) Country Report for MDG 4 (reduce child mortality), reported that five out of the nine indicators for this goal were not achieved. For MDG 5 (improve maternal health), both the goals for maternal mortality rates and the number of births attended by skilled health personnel were not achieved (Millennium Development Goals: Country Report, 2015). This supports a national imperative to continue to train highly skilled midwives who can function independently to reduce maternal mortality and attend births. The South African Nursing Council (SANC) has realigned the nursing qualifications to the changes in the NQF Act, 67 of 2008. New nursing education standards and curriculum guidelines have been published and the scope of practice of the envisaged new nursing cadres has been incorporated into this qualification.

There has been a shift in the tasks performed by professional Midwives because of the local shortage of other health professionals, especially doctors - the trend is to broaden the scope of practice of the professional nurse and expect them to perform tasks that only doctors were allowed to perform in the past. In addition, the health care system leaders are committed to meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that aim to address the complex burden of disease as well as ensure constructive responsiveness to burdens such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and other lifestyle-related diseases.

The National Strategic Plan for Nurse Education, Training and Practice published by the Department of Health in South Africa specifically mentions the shortage of specialist midwives, and therefore the need for training this category of specialist midwives will play a large role in delivering care in the re-engineering of the health care system. The skills expected of specialists in midwifery and neonatal nursing are higher-order, they will perform higher-level activities on a strategic level. They will provide leadership to the health team. The South African context needs the right skills at the point of service. They contribute to policy changes and help to maintain the excellence of practice. The educational subject matter of this postgraduate diploma prepares midwives to work as specialist practitioners for the promotion of maternal, reproductive, and neonatal health, and the prevention of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality, for individuals, groups, and communities. The qualification was informed by the National Strategic Plan for Nurse Education, Training and Practice: National Department of Health, 2012- 2017 to include instruction in reproductive health, antenatal care, intrapartum care, postpartum care, and neonatal nursing.

Learners qualified with this qualification will be able to function with advanced intellectual and practical competencies in specialised nursing settings as competent advanced midwives and neonatal nurse - leaders, in providing evidence-based care to other team members. Qualifying learners will be able to work as advanced midwives or neonatal nurse specialists in the health sector, and hospitals in charge of specialisation units/areas which need this category of specialised nurses. Furthermore, these advanced midwives may also function independently within the primary health care setting, or even set up their own private midwifery practice.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
The institution has an approved Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy applicable to equivalent qualifications for admission into the qualification. RPL will be applied to accommodate applicants who qualify. RPL thus provides alternative access and admission to qualifications, as well as advancement within qualifications. RPL may be applied for access, credits from modules and credits for or towards the qualification.
RPL for access:

Learners who do not meet the minimum entrance requirements or the required qualification that is at the same NQF level as the qualification required for admission may be considered for admission through RPL.

To be considered for admission in the qualification based on RPL, applicants should provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that they have acquired the relevant knowledge, skills, and competencies through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to cope with the qualification expectations should they be allowed entrance into the qualification.
RPL for exemption of modules:

Learners may apply for RPL to be exempted from modules that form part of the qualification. For a learner to be exempted from a module, the learner needs to provide sufficient evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that competency was achieved for the learning outcomes that are equivalent to the learning outcomes of the module.
RPL for credit:

Learners may also apply for RPL for credit for or towards the qualification, in which they must provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates prior learning through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to obtain credits towards the qualification.

Credit shall be appropriate to the context in which it is awarded and accepted.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:

Bachelor of Nursing, NQF Level 7.
Or

Advanced Diploma in Midwifery, NQF Level 7.
And

Registered Professional Nurse and Midwife with SANC.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 8 totalling 120 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 8,120 Credits:

Evidence Based Practice and Dynamics, 20 Credits.

Advanced Community Midwifery, 20 Credits.

Advanced Reproductive Health, 20 Credits.

Advanced Midwifery, 20 Credits.

Emergency Obstetric Care, 20 Credits.

Advanced Neonatal Nursing, 20 Credits.

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Demonstrate knowledge of and engagement in an area at the forefront of a field, discipline or practice; an understanding of the theories, research methodologies, methods and techniques relevant to the field, discipline or practice; and an understanding of how to apply such knowledge in a particular context.
2. Practice within the ethical-legal parameters of the profession and resolve professional-ethical dilemmas by using decision-making and moral reasoning models.
3. Implement standards to render and co-ordinate comprehensive specialist midwifery care according to the patients' needs using the scientific approach.
4. Demonstrate the ability to interrogate multiple sources of knowledge in an area of specialisation and to evaluate knowledge and processes of knowledge production.
5. Engage in policy development at local, regional, national, and international levels to position midwifery in the health care system at all levels.
6. Manage community health needs, plan, and implement appropriate programmes to address care for the Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Women's Health (MNCWH) population.
7. Facilitate efficient integrated implementation of appropriate packages of care at a specialist level to ensure good outcomes in MNCWH.
8. Demonstrate an understanding of the complexities and uncertainties of selecting, applying or transferring appropriate standard procedures, processes or techniques to unfamiliar problems in a specialised field, discipline
or practice.
9. Critically reflect on plans, and provide specialized high quality, culturally sensitive reproductive counselling, health education, and clinical services to all in the community to promote healthy reproductive lives.
10. Analyse and apply evidence-based principles and theories in midwifery and neonatal nursing.
11. Demonstrate an understanding of the complexities and uncertainties of selecting, applying or transferring appropriate standard procedures, processes or techniques to unfamiliar problems in a specialised field, discipline or practice.
12. Demonstrate the ability to use a range of specialised skills to identify, analyse and address complex or abstract problems drawing systematically on the body of knowledge and methods appropriate to a field, discipline or practice.
13. Demonstrate the ability to identify and address ethical issues based on critical reflection on the suitability of different
ethical value systems to specific contexts.
14. Lead interprofessional teams within the health care system to manage reproductive health, obstetric emergencies, maternal health issues and high-risk neonates.
15. Actively participate in the multi-professional team by demonstrating shared leadership and decision-making.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:

Apply the basic principles and process of research, evidence-based practice, professional development, management, and leadership within the area of midwifery.

Analyse a range of research methods and approaches with regard to their appropriateness for investigating particular research problems in midwifery.

Apply advanced research methods in investigating complex and/or ill-defined problems in midwifery practice.

Implement evidence-based practice in the field of midwifery.

Function effectively as a clinical midwife specialist with other members of the health team within the healthcare system.

Apply different mentoring models and preceptor techniques to develop self and novices in midwifery practice.

Establish academic and professional relationships to sustain lifelong learning in a variety of settings and the field of midwifery practice.

Use performance appraisal to monitor the development of self and others and enhance continuous professional development.

Manage and evaluate specialised nursing services at district, provincial and national level within the constraints of national health policy and international guidelines and in different settings.

Analyse and apply the principles and theories of management and leadership within a midwifery healthcare service context.

Evaluate the various components of operations in management in midwifery healthcare service.

Differentiate between the external and internal factors that influence midwifery healthcare service delivery in the South African context.

Design a strategic plan for services in a midwifery healthcare facility according to the strategic management process.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:

Apply critical decision-making and moral reasoning models to guide clinical practice and resolve professional-ethical dilemmas within Midwifery and Neonatal care.

Apply the relevant latest legislation, policies, protocols, regulations, guidelines, directives and applicable ethics regarding Midwifery and Neonatal care in practice.

Apply professional/ethical legal frameworks to guide the Midwife Specialist practice.

Practice and facilitate advocacy for the rights of women, partners, husbands, children, and families in their best interests.

Apply and interpret ethical codes, professional accountability, responsibility, confidentiality, and standards for the practice of Midwifery and Neonatal nursing consistently and correctly.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:

Manage maternal and neonatal conditions and interpret health assessment findings based on their relationship to biomedical, pharmacology and psychosocial sciences.

Implement epidemiologically informed programmes to raise community awareness.

Create and sustain healthy environments for pregnant women, mothers, and their infants of different ages across the health continuum, which is based on the best available evidence and resources.

Co-ordinate the activities of the inter-professional team within midwifery and neonatal nursing care.

Analyse, create and implement clinical standards to optimise the health of mothers and neonates.

Execute and coordinate clinical care standards competently within an inter-professional team.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:

Apply specialist knowledge and principles when communicating, making theoretical arguments, or developing documentation.

Evaluate the current evidence-based guidelines to improve maternal and reproductive health care.

Apply professional and academic writing skills through the creation of reports and guidelines.

Critically appraise and adopt the evidence-based practice, best practice guidelines, theories, and models in maternal and reproductive health care.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:

Engage in debates and compare the best available evidence, theories, or models on mother-and-child health.

Identify and debate the legislation that applies to mother-and-child health and communicate recommendations to authorities.

Debate the influence of social, political, cultural, and economic developments within the country on the provision of Midwifery and Neonatal nursing care and communicate recommendations to authorities to improve midwifery and neonatal practice.

Create comprehensive individual, people-centred, inter-professional midwifery and neonatal specialist treatment plans which are based on assessment findings and standardised national and contextually appropriate guidelines.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:

Integrate Midwifery and specialist nursing care efficiently across the different levels of healthcare provision to promote health outcomes.

Create and plan a community awareness programme/campaign for the Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Women's Health (MNCWH) population by using and interpreting epidemiological data on mother-and-child health.

Create, execute and co-ordinate comprehensive, family-centred packages of care which are based on community assessment findings, within an inter-professional team.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:

Implement Midwifery and specialist nursing care efficiently across the different levels of healthcare provision to promote health outcomes.

Assess the implementation of Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Women's Health (MNCWH) care packages at a specialist level through the interpretation of epidemiological data on mother-and-child health.

Create and sustain healthy environments for pregnant women, mothers, and their infants of different ages across the health continuum based on the best available evidence and resources.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8:

Evaluate the current evidence-based guidelines used in Reproductive Health to improve health care.

Critically appraise and apply principles, theories, and models on Reproductive Health to improve health care service delivery.

Identify and debate the legislation that applies to Reproductive Health and communicate recommendations to authorities.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 9:

Co-ordinate and render specialist reproductive health care across the different levels of healthcare provision to promote health outcomes.

Render specialist reproductive health care by considering social determinants of health and all relevant clinical findings at the appropriate level.

Create, execute and co-ordinate comprehensive, family-centred care plans which are based on assessment findings, within an inter-professional team.

Manage the reproductive health needs of mothers in various healthcare settings by using technology appropriately and safely while providing specialised reproductive health care.

Negotiate the reproductive care plan with women across the lifespan by using principles of healthy dialogue.

Use care pathways and referral systems appropriately and effectively for optimal reproductive health services delivery.

Improve clinical practice by capturing and utilising reproductive health data accurately.

Debate the influence of social, political, cultural, and economic developments within the country on the provision of reproductive health care and communicate recommendations to authorities with the goal of improving reproductive health practice.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 10:

Engage in debates and compare the best available evidence, theories or models on midwifery and neonatal nursing.

Operationalise the underlying theories that endorse the role of the Midwife Specialist.

Create and sustain healthy environments for pregnant women, mothers, and their infants of different ages across the health continuum, which is based on the best available evidence and resources.

Evaluate and report on, the current evidence-based guidelines to improve maternal and neonatal health care.

Critically appraise and adopt evidence-based practice, best practice guidelines, theories, and models in maternal and neonatal health care.

Implement evidence-based practice to promote quality of patient care and safety in midwifery and neonatal health.

Utilise specialist midwife/accoucheur skills to manage maternal health issues during the peripartum period.

Interpret subjective and objective assessment findings to make a specialist midwife diagnosis.

Create comprehensive individual, people-centred, inter-professional treatment plans which are based on assessment findings and standardised national and contextually appropriate guidelines for the optimisation of maternal health.

Debate the rationale and safety measures of technology used in assessing and treating pregnant women.

Critically analyse maternal care pathways and the referral system to optimise maternal health care.

Conduct audits of care of pregnant women on medico-legal standards (national core standards).

Evaluate the accuracy of data in reporting about the maternal health status.

Co-ordinate and render midwifery and specialist health care across the different levels of healthcare provision to promote health outcomes.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 12:

Manage emergencies during pregnancy, intrapartum and postnatal periods according to the best available evidence and national protocols.

Engage in debates and compare the best available evidence, theories, or models on obstetric emergencies.

Analyse and apply the principles, underlying theories, and emerging issues in the management of obstetric emergencies.

Evaluate and report on, the current evidence-based guidelines on the management of obstetric emergencies to improve maternal and neonatal health care.

Critically appraise and adopt evidence-based practice, best practice guidelines, theories, and models in the management of obstetric emergencies.

Implement evidence-based practice to promote quality of patient care and safety in the management of obstetric emergencies.

Create comprehensive individual, people-centred, inter-professional obstetric emergency treatment plans which are based on assessment findings and standardised national and contextually appropriate guidelines.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 13:

Apply appropriate assessment methods to identify, manage and refer at-risk mothers and neonates.

Assess and diagnose at-risk mothers and neonates by considering social determinants of health and all relevant clinical findings to demonstrate clinical reasoning at the appropriate level.

Execute and co-ordinate comprehensive individualised family-centred care plans, which are based on assessment findings, for at-risk mothers and neonates.

Diagnose, monitor, and manage high-risk mothers and neonates by using technology appropriately and safely while providing specialised care.

Negotiate the care plan of pregnant women and significant others, by using principles of healthy dialogue.

Critically analyse and use care pathways and efficient referral systems appropriately and effectively for at-risk mothers and neonates.

Compile the midwife specialist care according to care-and legal standards.

Evaluate the standards of care based on audits of the records of at-risk mothers and neonates.

Capture maternal and neonatal health data accurately and utilize it appropriately to improve midwifery practice.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 14:

Apply appropriate leadership styles by the specialist midwife within the inter-professional team.

Develop indicators for quality and cost-effectiveness based on benchmarks and best practices within
the health care system to optimise the care for reproductive health, obstetric emergencies, maternal health issues and high-risk neonates.

Analyse and optimise care pathways and referral systems within the health care system to manage reproductive health, obstetric emergencies, maternal health issues and high-risk neonates.

Co-ordinate the activities of the inter-professional team within the health care system to manage reproductive health, obstetric emergencies, maternal health issues and high-risk neonates effectively.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 15:

Create and document shared decision-making opportunities regarding Midwifery and Neonatal healthcare services.

Mobilise and use resources are to optimize midwifery and neonatal nursing care.

Facilitate and develop the thinking/reasoning processes of self and others through facilitation of learning.

Create a positive learning environment by supporting peers and novices and establishing academic networks to sustain personal development.

INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT
The Postgraduate Diploma in Midwifery aligns with the assessment policy of the institution in this way:

Each module guide designed by lecturers will inform learners about the type and weight of the assessment and the dates on which assessments are due.

Learners will be assessed continuously, and the assessment will include tests, individual and group assignments, presentations, classroom-based group work, projects, case studies, portfolios, and clinical/practical learning. The assessments could be paper-based, online or oral and the number of assessments per module will depend on the module credits.

Learners will be required to complete certain tasks in class as individuals or in groups.

Oral presentations will be done in class, individually and with groups. This will allow learners to work co-operatively, share experiences and learn from each other, and gain confidence as they participate in class. All these forms of formative assessments aim at strengthening learners' communication skills, their sense of independence and their ability to work as a team. They prepare them for the world of work as midwives where they must work as members of an academic team.

An assessment plan will be given to learners at the start of the semester as per the module descriptor. These activities will aim at assessing the learners' level of competence in both theory and practice and the extent to which they can apply, analyse, critique, and evaluate knowledge and practice as prospective midwives.

Formative and summative assessment:
The institution uses continuous and final assessments where the formative assessments make up the continuous assessments and the summative assessment in the form of a final assessment. In this qualification learner assessment, in most cases, will be continuous and a final assessment. Each assessment will carry a specific weight/percentage towards the final mark for the module. Lecturers will give regular feedback on continuous assessment tasks which include:

Tests.

Assignments (individual and group).

Presentations.

Online quizzes.

Discussions.

e-portfolios.

Practical competency tests.

These assessments will be reviewed by individual lecturers and clinical supervisors. Feedback will be provided to learners either individually or as a group to enable learners to reflect on their performance and identify areas for improvement where necessary. The lecturers will also be able to identify struggling or at-risk learners who require additional support.

The final assessment will occur at the end of each module, at the end of a semester. It usually occurs in May/June and in October/November of each year. This assessment usually contributes the highest weighting/ percentage towards the final mark. There are existing procedures in the institution for internal and external moderation. This qualification will adopt these procedures to manage the quality of the assessment process.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

This qualification was aligned closely with the 2016 World Health Organization (WHO)'s Africa regional prototype curriculum for Midwifery that all WHO African region countries follow. The qualification is aligned with the Global standards in the midwifery practice of the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM). On successful completion of this qualification and successful registration with the South African Nursing Council as a midwife, they will be internationally recognised.

Global standards compared:
The purpose of the midwifery education qualification is to produce a competent midwife who:

has attained/demonstrated, at a minimum, the current ICM Essential competencies for basic midwifery practice.

meets the criteria of the ICM Definition of a Midwife and regulatory body standards leading to licensure or registration as a midwife.

is eligible to apply for advanced education.

is a knowledgeable, autonomous practitioner who adheres to the ICM International Code of Ethics for Midwives, standards of the profession and established scope of practice within the jurisdiction where legally recognized.

The sequence and content of the midwifery curriculum enable the learner to acquire essential competencies for midwifery practice in accord with ICM core documents. The midwifery curriculum includes both theory and practice elements with a minimum of 40% theory and a minimum of 50% practice.
Upon completion, the learner can obtain registration as a Registered Midwife in other countries in Africa and abroad. The national health system of the country dictates that professional nurses be competent in delivering primary health care.

The following international qualifications were found to be comparable with this qualification:

Country: Australia
Institution: University of Technology Sydney (UTS)
Qualification Title: Graduate Diploma in Midwifery
Duration: one-year full time
NQF Level: Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Level 8
Entry requirements:

A bachelor's degree in nursing or the equivalent and registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia

Registered nurses who do not have a level 7 Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) qualification in nursing may be admitted with an alternative mode of entry assessment and recent clinical nursing experience.

Purpose/Rationale:
This qualification is designed to meet the graduate needs of registered nurses wishing to gain registration to practise in midwifery. It provides a broad theoretical and clinical study in midwifery and includes a discussion of professional, socio-political, and ethico-legal issues related to the family, and research skills that enhance midwifery practice and interpersonal processes. Learners undertake concurrent employment as midwifery learners in an accredited midwifery unit. The qualification requires concurrent employment in an accredited midwifery unit for one year (four days a week) for learners to meet the requirements to gain midwifery registration with the National Board of Nursing and Midwifery.

Qualification structure:
Learners must complete a total of 48 credit points, comprising eight compulsory subjects.

Translating Research into Midwifery Practice, 6 Credits.

Midwifery as Primary Healthcare: Public Health Strategy, 3 Credits.

Promoting, Supporting and Protecting Breastfeeding, 3 Credits.

Power, Politics and Midwifery, 6 Credits.

Midwifery Practice 1, 6 Credits.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health: Women and Babies, 6 Credits.

Perinatal Mental Health, 6 Credits.

Midwifery Practice 2, 6 Credits.

Midwifery in Complex Situations, 6 Credits.

Similarities:

Both UTS and South African qualifications have the same duration of one year.

Both qualifications share similar admission requirements.

Both qualifications are designed for learners to meet the requirements to gain midwifery registration with the National Board of Nursing and Midwifery and SANC for the South African qualification.

Both qualifications have similar compulsory qualification structures such as Midwifery Practice, Advanced Midwifery and Evidence-Based Practice and Dynamics

Differences:

UTS qualification has 48 credits while the South African qualification has 120 credits.

Country: Oman
Institution: Oman Specialized Nursing Institute
Qualification Title: Postgraduate Diploma in Midwifery
Duration: 18 months
Purpose/Rationale:
The qualification emphasises continued development through learning acquired from experience in work and life. Outcomes are perceived in terms of the development of certain competencies and potentialities that continue to improve. The acquisition of knowledge involves the learner developing her/his own useful strategies. The qualification develops learner thinking, building critical and analytical skills and enhances the reflective midwife who has the competence and confidence to practice with increasing autonomy. They will be motivated to view education as self-directed and a continuing lifelong experience. Knowledge acquired throughout the course will increase in depth and breadth as each new experience builds on what has previously been introduced. The development of reflective capability along with the expansion of the knowledge will ensure that theory and practice will be related.

The postgraduate diploma is intended to prepare Omani female nurses to become qualified midwives who will be independent practitioners in normal midwifery and to benefit the maternal and child health services in Oman by:

Providing midwives with increased skills of critical thinking and problem solving,

Improve the care of women and their families through the enhanced skill base.

Increased skills in research to develop the evidence base for practice.

Cost effective provision of midwives at a high level as first-line care providers in the primary health care centres.

Maintaining the recruitment of midwives within the country.

The ultimate objective of preparing midwives is to improve the maternal and child health services of Oman for future generations. Therefore, the qualification will consider traditional practices, cultural values, and religious beliefs along with the current research, ethics, and quality standards in normal and complicated midwifery. It will provide advanced education that fulfils the key roles to maximum potential along with the health care team. Additionally, they must build systematically upon their initial education continuing their professional education in ways that ensure they maintain competence to meet the needs of Omani women for midwifery care.

Similar to the South African qualification, qualifying learners will be able to:

Develop inquiring, critical, analytical, and creative approaches in theory and practice to explore midwifery related issues reflectively.

Practice as a competent midwife to provide accessible and effective care to women, newborn babies and childbearing families acquired from social science and public health.

Ensure that learners adopt the ethos of lifelong learning by using the appropriate learning styles and applying knowledge of ethical theories, principles, and their legal implications in clinical practice.

Impart the educational experience that will develop the learners` intellectual and imaginative abilities to enhance her/his ability to make sound decisions and judgments.

Develop the learners` abilities to recognize the normal-complex needs of women and their babies and provide culturally sensitive care throughout pregnancy, labour until the postnatal period.

Detect and refer abnormalities during antenatal, labour, and postnatal periods and manage emergencies with multidisciplinary teams.

Critically analyse and evaluate midwifery practice to identify areas for change and innovation.

Qualification structure:
The qualification consists of the following compulsory modules.

Leadership and management in Health Care.

Research Methodology in Health Sciences.

Art and Science of Midwifery Practice.

Skills for Midwives.

Public and Women Health for Midwives.

Clinical Practice I.

Similarities:

There are similarities in the rationale, structure, and content (midwifery as a profession; childbirth; best practice in midwifery).

The model, which is currently adopted, is similar to what happens in the United States, where midwives hold a basic training qualification in nursing at a higher education institution, and then go on to further post-basic study to qualify as a midwife.

All the competencies required by the International Confederation of Midwives will be covered in this qualification.

Differences:

The duration for the Oman qualification is 18 months while the SA qualification takes one year of full-time study.

The State of the World's Midwifery report (2014) shows a huge disparity in the education and training of midwives worldwide.

The difference is that the South African qualification is firmly located with the local and continental context, while still drawing on internationally validated perspectives of nursing, and is focused on comprehensive care of the pregnant mother and the neonate.

In the United Kingdom, registered nurses enrol for a shortened programme to qualify as a midwife, although there are direct-entry midwifery courses as well.

Conclusion:
The comparative analysis shows that this qualification compares with the ICM requirements in the relevant categories of professional nurses. The quality and scope of South African midwifery qualifications are recognised in most developed countries. Inferences from training programs internationally seem to echo the message in their training, that midwifery is specialised, and should have its own qualification to showcase this. In South Africa, midwifery education and training are regulated by the South African Nursing Council, so there are not many differences between training programmes internationally, opening opportunities for articulation.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

This qualification allows possibilities for both vertical and horizontal articulation.

Horizontal Articulation:

Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing, NQF Level 8.

Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing and Health Services Management, NQF Level 8.

Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing Education, NQF Level 8.

Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Medicine, NQF Level 8.

Postgraduate Diploma in Operation Theatre Nursing, NQF Level 8.

Bachelor of Nursing Honours, NQF Level 8.

Bachelor of Nursing Science Honours, NQF Level 8.

Vertical Articulation:

Master of Nursing Science: Advanced Midwifery, NQF Level 9.

Master of Nursing Science: Advanced Midwifery and Neonatal Nursing Science, NQF Level 9.

Master of Nursing, NQF Level 9.

MODERATION OPTIONS

N/A

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

N/A

NOTES

N/A

LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION:

NONE

PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION:

This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.

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