Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Objectives Through a variety of in-class, clinically based, student driven activities and journalling, this subject should enable students to describe the concept of wise women as midwifes and healers from an historic and current perspective; differentiate between the historical and philosophical foundations of midwifery in comparison to nursing and medicine; discuss how factors such as social, cultural, patriarchal, feminist, medical and nursing dominance have historically influenced midwifery practice and the subsequent experiences of women and their families during childbirth; describe how factors such as recent changes in Victorian State legislation, joint agreements between national obstetric and midwifery professional organisations, the ICM, WHO and UNICEF Safe Motherhood Initiative, tertiary education for midwifes, and the changing needs of society, are likely to affect midwifery practice in the future; describe the nature and practice of midwifery in a variety of clinical settings that reflect consumer use of traditional and complementary therapies.
Synopsis This subject is made up of two modules which provide a foundation for the study of midwifery. The first module examines the history and philosophy of midwifery and its relationship to childbirth and health care. The second module examines applied anatomy and physiology in relation to midwifery practice. Students explore changes that occur to the mother and fetus from conception, through pregnancy, labour and the puerperium.
Assessment Presentation of a seminar on the impact of various care delivery settings on practice, an examination on applied anatomy and physiology, and by clinical performance standards.