INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

School of Midwifery Bauchi was established in 1976 for the

purpose of drawing competent skilled and versatile midwifery

practitioners who are capable of providing high level of care settings

health clinics and clinics and communities. The essence is to reduce

maternal and infant mortality rates to the bearest level as against the

present rate of about 1000/100000 live births and neonatal mortality

rate of 35/1000 with the majority of deaths occurring in the rural

community level (Federal Ministry of Health 1998). These high

maternal and child mortality ratios have been linked to shortage of

trained competent and skilled midwifery personnel at the rural

community level of health care (Federal Ministry of Health 1998).

The objectives of midwifery programme are that at the end of

the three years (3) course the students should be able to:

1) Assess the basic health needs of a community and intervene

appropriately

2) Utilize the nursing process in providing comprehensive nursing

care to individuals and groups in the community and in all

primary health care settings.

3) Identify risk factors in obstacles and take appropriate action

4) Function in dependently and in collaboration with other

members of the health team and related sectors.

5) Practice safe and clean delivery

6) Supervise the clinical experience of student midwives and

paramedical personnel in the community.

7) Network with government and non government organisations to

address reproductive health problems

8) Sensitize mobilize and educate individuals families and groups

in order to effect change in the reproductive pattern of the

community.

9) Utilize appropriate clinical protocol in managing obstetric

emergencies and refer appropriately to save the lives of mother

and child.

10) Collaborate with the community to improve the productive

health status of women youths and men (Basic Midwifery

Curriculum for Nigeria 2004).

The entry requirements to the basic midwifery schools

nationwide are five credits to include English language and the

relevant science subjects. Also the curriculum for Basic Midwifery in

Nigeria (2004) stated that “candidate for admission into the basic

programme of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria must

possess the senior secondary certificate or its equivalent with five

credits to include English language biology and any other three from

the following physics chemistry geography economics at not more

than two sittings”. (NMCN 2001).

The admission into School of Midwifery Bauchi is in line with the

above minimum standards set by Nursing and Midwifery Council by

Nigeria. The candidate that has met this requirement is expected to

do well in the final examination of the three year programme.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (2004) there is

no relationship between entry qualification and student midwives

performance in their final qualifying examination in Nigeria. Hence

the timely need for this study is to find out whether entry qualification

will predict the students midwives performance in the final qualifying

examination in School of Midwifery Bauchi.

Statement of the Problem

Available statistics by Federal Ministry of Health (1998) shows

that there is increased maternal and infant mortality. Maternal

mortality rate of about 1000/100000 live-birth with the majority of

the death occurring at the rural community level. Hence the need for

training more midwives to enhance family health and that of the

community at large. However the candidates that have met the

requirements set by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria as

admitted into the School of Midwifery are expected to do well in the

final examination of the three year programme but literature from

Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (2004) revealed that there is

no relationship between entry qualification and student midwives

performance in their final qualifying examination. Yet no empirical

study was available to confirm this problem. Therefore the problem

of the study was what is the relationship between entry qualification

of students and their performance in the final qualifying examination

at the School of Midwifery Bauchi?

Purpose of the Study

The purpose of this study was to find out the relationship

between students’ entry qualification and their performance in the

final qualifying examination at the School of Midwifery Bauchi.

Specifically the study found out the relationship between

1) Students’ NECO scores and their scores in the final qualifying

examination.

2) Students’ GCE scores and their scores in the final qualifying

examination

Significance of the Study

The findings of this study have provided data to the

management of School of Midwifery Bauchi on the relationship

between entry qualification and students performance in final year

examination. Such a data will enable the Nursing and Midwifery of

Nigeria to evaluate the present entry requirements into Basic

Midwifery School.

Research Questions

The following questions were formulated to guide the study:

1) What is the relationship between students’ NECO scores and

their scores in the final qualifying examination?

2) What is the relationship between students’ GCE scores and

their scores in the final qualifying examination?

Hypotheses

The following hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of

significance:

1) There is no significant relationship between students’ GCE

O’Level scores and their performance in final qualifying

examination.

2) There is no significant relationship between students’ NECO

scores and their scores in final examination.

Delimitation

The study was designed to find out the relationship between students’

entry qualification and their scores in final qualifying examination in

School of Midwifery Bauchi.