Midwives' and senior student midwives' knowledge of haemoglobinopathies in England.

Date
1996
Authors
Dyson, Simon
Fielder, Anna
Kirkham, Mavis
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
ISSN
0266-6138
Volume Title
Publisher
Churchill-Livingstone
Peer reviewed
Abstract
Objective: To examine midwives' and senior student midwives' knowledge concerning sickle cell anaemia and beta-thalassaemia. Design: Survey using the Dyson Questionnaires. Setting: Study days on 26 sites across England over 3 months. Participants: 850 questionnaires were completed by a convenience sample of midwives and senior students: 401 on sickle cell anaemia and 449 on beta-thalassaemia. In each case just under 2/3 were qualified midwives. Measurements and findings: Most respondents underestimated the number of ethnic groups affected by these disorders. A majority gave the wrong answers to basic questions on the inheritance of these disorders, less than 1/3 answered two simple genetics questions correctly. Key conclusions: In order to provide an equitable service midwives need more education in this area particularly after registration. Implications for education practice: Education on haemoglobinopathies was linked with improved knowledge levels and appears most effective when undertaken by haemoglobinopathies counsellors. Such education should therefore be available especially to qualified midwives who have lacked it previously.
Description
Keywords
midwifery, knowledge, haemoglobinopathies, sickle cell, thalassaemia, cultural competency, student midwife, genetics, survey
Citation
Dyson, S., Fielder, A. and Kirkham, M. (1996) Midwives' and senior student midwives' knowledge of haemoglobinopathies in England. Midwifery, 12 (1), pp. 23-30.
Research Institute
Institute for Allied Health Sciences Research