Difference Between Basic Midwifery & Community Midwifery Programs

Differences Between Basic Midwifery and Community Midwifery Programmes in Nigeria Midwifery Institutions

Due to many questions from our readers through our various contact channels regarding the above-mentioned question, we have decided to clarify all Midwifery aspirants and candidates based on this popular question on the Difference between Basic Midwifery and Community Midwifery programs in many Schools of Nursing and Midwifery in Nigeria.

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Before we begin with the Difference Between Basic Midwifery & Community Midwifery Programmes we will like to briefly explain all you need to know concerning the Basic Midwifery & Community Midwifery Programmes ranging from their duration, eligibility, admission requirements e.t.c. Kindly continue to read the contents below to get the full information concerning the topic Basic Midwifery & Community Midwifery Programmes.

A. BASIC MIDWIFERY PROGRAMME (ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW)

This is 3 years, 6 semesters Basic General Midwifery programme, approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN). It is designed to train students on practical midwifery skills and gives them the knowledge and clinical experience they need to become a Registered Midwife (RM). Registered Midwife (RM) provides support, care and advice before, during and after pregnancy, labour and postpartum (after birth) period; this care includes preventative measures, the promotion of normal birth, the detection of complications in mother and child, the accessing of medical care or other appropriate assistance and the carrying out of emergency measures. Registered Midwife (RM) also conducts births and provide care for the newborn and the infant. They also provide family planning and preconception care as well as to conduct prenatal exams and order tests.

Registered Midwives (RM) can work in any Tertiary Healthcare Institutions (e.g National hospitals, Federal Medical Centers etc), Secondary Healthcare Institutions  (e.g General Hospitals), Primary Healthcare Institutions,  (Primary Health Care, Comprehensive Health Care) and Maternal and Child Hospitals in the world.

Admission Requirements

Candidates must possess at least five (5) credits at not more than two (2) sittings including English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics in WAEC, NECO and/or NABTEB. A combination of WAEC/WAEC, NECO/NECO, WAEC/NECO is acceptable. NABTEB cannot be combined with WAEC or NECO or another NABTEB. If the candidate will use NABTEB, she must have all the required 5 credits in it.

Qualified candidates will be required to write an Entrance Exam to be conducted by their respective Schools or colleges.

Candidates successful at the Entrance Exam will be invited for an interview to be conducted by their respective Schools or colleges.

Candidates successful at the interview will be offered provisional admission into the Basic General Midwifery programme.

Candidates admitted into the Basic General Midwifery Programme will undergo intensive training/lectures in Basic Sciences, Nursing and Midwifery Courses for six months. Thereafter an Introductory Examination for the First Semester will be conducted.

Only successful students at the Introductory Exam will be Indexed by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and the unsuccessful students will be withdrawn.

B. COMMUNITY MIDWIFERY PROGRAMME (ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW)

This is a 2 years, 4 semesters Community Midwifery programme, approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN). It is designed to train students on practical community midwifery skills and gives them the knowledge and clinical experience they need to become Licensed Community Midwife (LCM). Licensed Community Midwife (LCM) provides support, care and advice before, during and after pregnancy, labour and postpartum (after birth) period AT COMMUNITY LEVEL; this care includes preventative measures, the promotion of normal birth, the detection of complications in mother and child, the accessing of medical care or other appropriate assistance and the carrying out of emergency measures. Licensed Community Midwife (LCM) also conducts births and provide care for the newborn and the infant under the supervision of a Registered Midwife or Registered Nurse. They also provide family planning and preconception care as well as to conduct prenatal exams and order tests.

The programme is meant to reduce the maternal mortality rate. An only female indigene of a State and resident in their community are eligible for admission. Students studying Community Midwifery will be sponsored and bonded by their State Local Government Service Commission. Upon successful graduation, registered community midwives will be required to work with pay for 2 years at their respective communities.

Licensed Community Midwives can only work in Primary Healthcare Institutions (Primary Health Care, Comprehensive Health Care). Licensed Community Midwives who wish to further their education to become Registered Midwives shall be admitted for a two-year programme in a School/College of Midwifery provided the pre-requisite O-level papers of 5 credits in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics are met.

Admission Requirements

Candidates must possess at least four (4) credits at not more than two (2) sittings including English Language, Biology and two science subjects in WAEC, NECO and/or NABTEB. A combination of WAEC/WAEC, NECO/NECO, WAEC/NECO is acceptable. NABTEB cannot be combined with WAEC or NECO or another NABTEB. If the candidate will use NABTEB, he/she must have all the required 4 credits in it.

Candidate must possess a Letter of Identification of Residence signed and stamped Village Head, Ward Head, District Head and Local Government Chairman.

Qualified candidates will be required to write an Entrance Exam to be conducted by the College. The Entrance Exam usually covers English Language, Biology and Civil Education.

Candidates successful at the Entrance Exam will be invited for an interview to be conducted by the College.

Candidates successful at the interview will be offered provisional admission into the Community Midwifery programme at their respective Colleges or Schools.

Candidates admitted into the Community Midwifery Programme will undergo intensive training/lectures in Basic Sciences, Nursing and Midwifery Courses for six months. Thereafter an Introductory Examination for the First Semester will be conducted at their respective Schools or Colleges.

Only successful students at the Introductory Exam will be Indexed by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and unsuccessful students will be withdrawn.

NOTE

Applicants for COMMUNITY MIDWIFERY must possess a minimum of 4 credits at not more than two (2) sittings including English Language, Biology and any two of Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics.

An applicant for Community Midwifery MUST be a female Indigene of their State and resident of their community in their State.

A combination of WAEC/WAEC, NECO/NECO, WAEC/NECO is acceptable. NABTEB cannot be combined with WAEC or NECO or another NABTEB. If the candidate will use NABTEB, she must have all the required 4 credits in it.

 Difference Between Basic Midwifery & Community Midwifery Programmes

1. BASIC midwifery is 3 years program while COMMUNITY midwifery is 2 years program.

2. BASIC midwifery is for both female indigenes of a State and other States in Nigeria while COMMUNITY Midwifery is ONLY for female indigenes of a State and they must be residents of their community.

3. The entry requirement for BASIC Midwifery is at least 5 credits including English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics while entry requirements for COMMUNITY are at least 4 Credits including English Language, Biology, and any two science subjects.

4. Students of BASIC Midwifery are NOT sponsored during their training and bonded to work for their State government after graduation but students of COMMUNITY midwifery program are sponsored during their training and bonded to work for their State government for 2 years after graduation.

5. Graduates of BASIC midwifery will be licensed by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria as Registered Midwife (RM) while graduates of COMMUNITY midwifery will be licensed by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria as Licensed Community Midwife (LCM).

6. A Registered Midwife can work in any Healthcare institution (National Hospitals, Federal Medical Centers, Specialist Hospitals, General Hospitals, Primary Healthcare Centres, etc) while COMMUNITY Midwives can ONLY work in Primary Healthcare Centres.

7. Registered Midwives can gain direct entry admission into University for Bachelor of Nursing degree program or direct entry admission into an 18 months Post Basic Nursing program while  Licensed COMMUNITY Midwives, who wish to further their education to become Registered Midwives shall be admitted for a two-year program in a School/College of Midwifery provided the pre-requisite O-level papers of 5 credits in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics are met.

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