____________________________________

Inaugural Commonwealth Nurses Conference

Our health: our common wealth 10-11 March 2012 London UK

In collaboration with the 9th CNF Europe Region Conference

Supported by the Royal College of Nursing UK

Mr NDARUKWA PISIRAI

Student nurses’ views on a pregnancy policy implemented by Zimbabwe Ministry of Health

A SURVEY OF STUDENT NURSES’ VIEWS ON THE

IMPLEMENTATION OF PREGNANCY POLICY AT

CHITUNGWIZA CENTRAL HOSPITAL’S SCHOOL OF

NURSING AND MIDWIFERY.

.

BY

NDARUKWA PISIRAI

MPH Student (AU)/BSc Ned (CUT)/RMN/RGN.

SENIOR TUTOR AND RESEARCH COORDINATOR

CHITUNGWIZA SCHOOL OF NURSING AND MIDWIFERY

Co Author.

DR O MOYO

MD/MphilMed/FRCPath(UK)/FRSPH(UK)

FSB(UK)

CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE

OFFICER (CCH).

Introduction

The 5th of July 2007, Ministry of Health and Child Welfare enacted a pregnancy policy which states that, “Any student nurse who falls pregnant during the course of training should terminate and reapply to be reconsidered after three years”. The readmmision into training is not automatic.

Despite the pregnancy policy having been enacted, student nurses at Chitungwiza Central Hospital School of Nursing and Midwifery continued to fall pregnant. Twenty (8.8%) of 226 female students reported pregnacy during the period January 2008 to July 2010.

This prompted the present research to be carried out.

Research Objectives

Objectives of this research are as follows;-

To identify the demographic distribution of student nurses.

To establish the student nurses’ views on implementation of the pregnancy policy.

To suggest strategies to improve the pregnancy policy.

Hypothesis of the Study.

Null Hypothesis H0 : Age of the

student nurses is independent of their views on the current pregnancy policy.

Alternative Hypothesis H1: Age of the student nurses determine their views on the current pregnancy policy.

Purpose of the Study

The purpose of this study was to determine the student nurses’ views on the implementation of pregnancy policy at chitungwiza Central Hospital’s School of Nursing and Midwifery.

Methods and Materials

Study Design.

This study made use of the quantitative descriptive survey design.

Sample and Sampling Technique.

A sample of 80 respondents were selected using the stratified random sampling method.

Instrument.

A self administered questionnaires with closed and open ended questions was used to collect data from the respondents.

Data Analysis.

Data was analysed using manual tallying, tables and graphs and descriptive statistics.

RESULTS

Table 1: Ages of the Respondents

n=80

Age (Years) Frequency Percentage

17 – 25 35 43.75

26-30 17 21.25

31-40 20 25.00

41-45 8 10.00

Total 80 100.00

Table 2: Analysis of the Respondents’ age

Real Class Limits

Frequency Class width Frequency

Density Midpoint

16.5-25.5 35 9 3.9 21

25.5-30.5 17 5 3.4 28

30.5-40.5 20 10 2 35.5

40.5-45.5 8 5 1.6 43

Table 4: The Respondents’ level of training.

n=80

The majority 60 (75%)of respondents were in their first year and second year level of training

whereas 20(25%)respondents in their third year of training.

Level of Training Number of

Respondents Percentage (%)

First Years 30 37.5

Second Years 30 37.5

Third Years 20 25.0

Total 80 100.0

Figure 2:The respondents’ Marital Status.

Table 5:

Distribution of the Respondents’ Views on the Pregnancy

Policy according to age group.

Response Age Group

17-25 26-30 31-40 41-45 Total

Not fair 34 15 11 1 61

Good policy 1 2 9 7 19

Total 35 17 20 8 80

Table 5:

Analysis of The Distribution of the Repondents’ Views on the Pregnancy Policy according to

age.

Age Group

Response 17-25 26-30 31-40 41-45 Total

Not fair 26.7 13 15.3 6.1 61.1

Good policy 8.3 4 4.7 1.9 18.9

Total 35 17 20 8 80

Results showed that the age group 17-25years had the highest number of the respondents 35(43.75%). This indicates that the most affected by the pregnancy policy of July 5, 2007 are within the above stated group. The mean age for the student nurses who participated in this research for the views of the pregnancy policy at Chitungwiza Central Hospital’s School of Nursing and Midwifery was 28.3years. The modal age was 21.8years and the median age was 27 years. The sd was 7.7 at a P< .01

The majority 38(48.75%) were married hence affected by the policy.

The majority 60 (75%)of respondents were in their first year and second year level of training whereas 20(25%)respondents in their third year of training.

Most 61( 76.25%) of the respondents viewed the policy as very unfair because it neglects the essence of marriages and that it had negative cultural implications. They said that the current pregnancy policy promoted abortions in order to avoid possible discharge from training hence its not good. In their opinion, they even highlighted that the policy was causing serious marital disharmonies back home.

Slightly above half 43(53.75%) respondents viewed the policy as being discriminatory as it only affected female student nurses leaving out men who impregnated them.

Most 61(76.25%) were of an opinion that the policy should be revisited in order to allow them to fall pregnant during the course of training.

All 80 (100%) indicated that they knew about the pregnancy policy.

The age group 17-25years determined the policy views at P < .05. Hence reject Ho.

Recommendations

On the basis of the findings from this study, it is recommended that:

The current pregnancy policy be reviewed to meet the needs of the female student nurses. Adopt the previous pregnancy policy which allowed the student nurses to fall pregnant and come back after three months into the training programme.

Student nurses should be allowed at least one pregnancy opportunity if they could during the three-year training programme. Do not expel student nurses who fall pregnant.

Promote good reproductive health issues for the student nurses.

Further research can be carried out on the effects of the pregnant policy on the female student nurses who are not allowed to come back into training in Zimbabwe.

THE END Any questions

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