Evaluation of the use of Simulation with Student Midwives in Zambia

The largest health discrepancy in the world is maternal mortality with most deaths occurring around the labor, delivery and postpartum period. The presence of skilled birth attendants such as qualified midwives is a leading factor in averting death and disability. This study evaluated the use of simulation with midwifery students in Zambia using a pre and post test quasi experimental design measuring confidence, satisfaction with learning, and knowledge between students who experienced simulation and those who had traditional instruction. A total of 34 students participated in the study. There were no statistical differences between mean scores on knowledge or confidence measures. Students who participated in simulation were more satisfied with learning than those who did not (p =.03). This pilot study provided data on the process of implementing simulation with midwifery students in a low resourced setting and area's for improvement for it to be an effective teaching method. © 2012 Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG, Berlin/Boston.