NMHS10400 Promoting Women's Health

Academic Year 2022/2023

The aim of this module is to engage midwifery students in all aspects relating to the promotion of health in childbearing women. Concepts of health will be explored along with the philosophy and principles of health promotion and health education. A construct of wellness will be explored to identify the limitations of the traditional definition of health. The public health issues facing pregnant women, their babies and the complexity of factors which contribute to these problems will be explored. The link between the health of women and babies will be identified and explored. The role of midwives in health promotion and disease prevention as educators and promoters of women's wellness will be explored.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
• Define health, health behaviour, health education, and health promotion
• Define the concept of health, wellness, health promotion and public health in childbearing women.
• Discuss the health promotion approaches and methods used to promote health in childbearing women.
• Critically discuss the factors influencing health of childbearing women in Ireland and worldwide (physical,psychological, social, socio-economic, behavioural, cultural, ethnic/race, gender and environmental factors).
• Discuss the use of needs assessment in health promotion in childbearing women.
• Identify opportunities and strategies for promoting and achieving health at international, national, community and individual level
• Critically evaluate the role of the midwife in health promotion in Ireland.

Indicative Module Content:

Indicative Content

• Concepts and definitions of health, wellness, health behaviour, health education and health
promotion
• Concepts of health promotion and public health
• Approaches and methods used to promote health in childbearing women
• Factors influencing health of childbearing women and their partners:
• Physical, psychological, social, socio-economic, behavioural, cultural, ethnic/race, gender and
environmental factors
• Epidemiology
• Sexual health
• Healthy Lifestyles;
• Preconception care
• Maternal and infant nutrition
• Obesity in childbearing women
• Exercise for health in childbearing
• Smoking cessation in pregnancy (Motivational Interviewing)
• Alcohol awareness, use in pregnancy and its affects
• Drug awareness and abuse in pregnancy
• Perinatal mental health promotion
• Promotion of breastfeeding in Ireland
• Breast and cervical cancer screening
• Education for childbirth – Adult learning, facilitating group sessions, teaching and learning
strategies
• Complementary therapies use in childbearing women
• Needs assessment in health promotion as it relates to childbearing women
• Strategies for promoting and achieving health at international, national, community and individual
level
• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and its prevention
• Safe motherhood: A global perspective on maternal and child health
• The role of the midwife in health promotion

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

30
Specified Learning Activities

20
Autonomous Student Learning

75
Total

125
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures, group work, reflective learning, debates, student presentations, small group discussions 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Presentation: Antenatal Education Resource VIDEO Unspecified n/a Graded No

100

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback will be given in person by the module coordinator at the requested time and date agreed by the module coordinator and student.

Reading List:

Bowden, J., Manning, V. (2016) Health Promotion in Midwifery: Principles and Practice, 3rd Ed. London: Taylor and Francis

Department of Health (2016) Make Every Contact Count - A Health Behaviour Change, Framework and Implementation Plan for Health Professionals in the Irish Health Service. Dublin: Stationery Office.

Department of Health (2016) National Maternity Strategy – Creating a Better Future Together 2016 - 2026. Dublin: Stationery Office.

Department of Health (2021) Health in Ireland Key Trends 2021. Dublin: Stationery Office.

Department of Health (2015) National Sexual Health Strategy for Ireland 2015 – 2020. Dublin: Stationery Office.

Department of Health (2021) Healthy Ireland Strategic Action Plan 2021-2025. Dublin: Stationery Office.

Health Service Executive (2016) Breastfeeding in a Healthy Ireland, Health Service Breastfeeding Action Plan 2016 - 2021. Dublin: HSE.

Health Service Executive (2011) The Health Promotion Strategic Framework. Dublin: HSE National Health Promotion Office.

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland Publications:

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (2022) Practice standards for Midwives. Dublin

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (2015) Scope of Nursing and Midwifery Practice Framework. Dublin,


Further suggested reading resources will be provided throughout the module
Name Role
Dr Paula Cornally Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Kate Frazer Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Ms Elizabeth Greene Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Aoife Claire MacCormac Lecturer / Co-Lecturer